HomeMy WebLinkAboutSEOPW OMNI CRA 2003-03-08 MinutesDistrict 5
Southeast Overtown/Park West -
Community Redevelopment Agency Workshop
Convened by
Frank Rollason, Executive Director, CRA
March 8, 2003
Frank Rollason (Executive Director, CRA): And this is a requirement of Statue 163. One of the
requirements the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) has is to have these plans, and
we're updating this one first. And we're in the process of just beginning the negotiations with a
firm to update the Omni plan also. There was a meeting here back in November. A lot of input
was given from the community at that meeting, and a lot of that has been incorporated into the
presentation that'll be made today. Before we get going, there's a -- with their presentation,
there's a video that we're going to show you, which was done by some students from the
community here, and it was put together by the Miami Art Museum by a grant that was given by
the Empowerment Trust. And this is a video of the Overtown community. I have not seen it. I
understand it's pretty neat, but it's dealing with the people that live here, the businesses, and the
residents and it was done by the students. And hopefully, it will give us a little bit of a flavor of
what we're looking at in this community and some of those things that we're trying to preserve.
So, Michael, if we're ready to go, let's do it.
Note for the Record: At this time, video by the Miami Art Museum was shown.
Mr. Rollason: That video wasn't on the original agenda, but I had a meeting the other day with
somebody that bought this to my attention, and I thought it would be something pretty neat to
bring to the meeting here today and give you an idea of what things were kind of like, and what
some people that live in the community what they would like to see in the fixture. I see that our
chainnan has joined us for a minute, and would you like to have any opening remarks, Mr.
Chairman, or --
[At this time Commissioner Teele entered the meeting.]
Chairman Teele: I just wanted to express my appreciation, first and foremost, to the City staff,
Planning Director, and staff, because they are Monday through Friday employees. Except in the
City of Miami, nobody's a Monday to Friday employee anymore. But I appreciate you all, the
City employees, taking time from your families and your personal life to join us. As you're all
aware, some four years ago we were able to bring the Treasure Coast planning entity down from
Palm Beach and Martin County, and what I said then, as I will say now, I'm not big on studies
and a lot of meetings, but we will implement some components of that Treasure Coast study,
which was a community process, I think. You can see that the building that we selected to do is
about 90 percent completed. That's the building that runs along Third Avenue from 1 Oth Street --
from IOth Street all the way up to I I"' Street, the so-called Solomon Yuken building, where we
agreed, based upon the community input, to restore and revise the facade of the building, and
that facade, of course, is going to change the entire block of the community. This process,
similarly, will be substantially implemented. We are mandated, as you will hear under State law,
Chapter 163, to maintain a development plan. This process is not about Overtown specifically.
It is about the redevelopment district specifically, for which Overtown is a component. The
district, as you know, was created after a lot of debate and fanfare. And in retrospect, I think the
wisdom of the Commission will stand the test of time, and that is to put the Park West area that
is between 5th Street and 395, along Biscayne Boulevard, into a district that begins sort of with
the railroad track, that goes to 95 -- that portion is called Overtown -- into one district, as a
redevelopment district. I think the Mayor, at the time, kept saying that you'll never develop
Overtown until you develop Biscayne Boulevard, and the development, in his mind, would go
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III
from east to west. And the experiences that we're having in the last two years have certainly
begin to bear out the development cycle, which is developed, not by the government or
community input and involvement. It's developed by the marketplace. And so, if you look at
I I"' Street, from Biscayne Boulevard, you'll see the development walking to the west, slowly,
but very clearly, walking to the west. And so that represents -- and by the way, I'm real happy
that Frank -- several of the developers have been working with my office, Brenda Lee and others,
and they employed 11 people on yesterday from the Overtown area. And we expect that, by the
end of the month, we'll have 25 people from Overtown employed of the almost 400 people that
are expected to be -- two to 400 people that will be expected to be employed. And this, of
course, represents a tremendous breakthrough. This redevelopment district, called the Southeast
Overtown/Park West District, is the subject of our discussion today. And under the law, as I
referred to, Chapter 163, the plan must be updated periodically. It was updated last when it was
written in 1982. So, what comes out of this will guide the thinking of the City, the thinking of
the developers and, certainly, the thinking of the governmental agencies, the Florida DOT
(Department of Transportation), the Port of Miami, Miami -Dade County Transit, Miami -Dade
County Public Works, City of Miami Public Works, City Planning. All of these entities, but
most of all, the private sector, the land owners, the property owners, will be guided by what
comes out of this. And so, your input will be very carefully considered by our planners and,
ultimately, this plan will be presented to the City of Miami -- to the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) Board for approval, which will then be transmitted to Miami -Dade
County and the City of Miami for approval pursuant to state law. I guess the most important
thing that I can say is whatever develops from this plan will be a part of the redevelopment -- it
will be the redevelopment roadmap for Park West and Overtown over the next 10 to 15 years.
One final comment that I think is really important so that everybody understands where we're
going. You're going to hear a lot more about property owners. That is because Chapter 163, the
state law that creates redevelopment districts -- the authority for redevelopment districts, gives
great deference to property owners and the views of property owners in this. In fact, the districts
in most of the governmental -- in most of the state of Florida redevelopment authorities are made
up largely of property owners, sort of like the DDA (Downtown Development Authority)
downtown. I have stated -- I think going back to '98 -- that I am prepared to move the
redevelopment districts, both the Omni District and the Park West -- Southeast Overtown/Park
West into more compliance with state law. My hesitancy has been that the property owners in
Overtown more and more appear to be people that don't live in Overtown, but we're going to
comply with the law. We're going to work through these processes, and we're going to involve -
- I'm particularly encouraged that the trust and the Knight -- through the Knight Center and the
Overtown Partnership has been buying land, because I think what has been missing from the
table in a serious way are property owners who have a vested interest in Overtown -- or a vested
interest, in particularly, in Overtown, but in many of our communities that are affected
disproportionately by slum and blight. And I think it's a good thing if we can encourage
property owner or previous property owners to come back and invest. I think you will recall,
about two years ago, three years ago -- and if you don't have it, you should get it -- after a
careful research with the state and policy owners, we came out with a proposal for a fast food
franchise. It was totally skewed toward property owners or the children or heirs of previous
property owners of Overtown, and that's very important because one of the comments that was
made in the film is that it's important that Overtown not just be redeveloped, but it be
redeveloped so that the residents of Overtown can benefit. Now, if you understand that -- what's
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the correct percentage? Seventy percent, 80 percent of the residents of Overtown are in
subsidized housing, public housing, or some other form of housing. I do know that the census
track reveals that Overtown has one of the lowest homeownership ratios of any urban census
track in the United States. There is the lowest single family detached homeownership statistics
in Overtown, not in Dade County, not in Florida, but in the entire United States. And so, that
cries out for a lot of homeownership, but it also speaks to the point that getting property owners
to the table has been a real problem in the past. And so, we want to encourage everybody to go
out and tell people to come and buy in Overtown, and we also want to encourage people that
own property in Overtown to seek out the sons and daughters and heirs of people who previously
lived in Overtown. This is a private sector to private sector. Government can't tell you who to
sell to. You can sell to anybody you want to. But it's really, really important, because more and
more, we're going to provide a venue primarily focused upon Chapter 163 and bring our
redevelopment authority into full compliance, and property owners are going to have a big say in
what we do at the redevelopment authority in going forward. Obviously, your input, as
community representatives and property owners, is going to be important. In this regard, I would
like to just sort of give you finally where we're going to be going in terms of the role and
participation in Overtown. As you know, one of the problems that you have is so many
governmental agencies are coming at you from so many different points of view, and it's
particularly true in the school system, where you have parents that are being called by Juvenile
Justice, Family Children, and this and the other and it's very unbearable. We are mandated by
Community Development -- that is, we, the City -- to hold public hearings on Community
Development fiends. That overlaps substantially with the CRA, in that the CRA uses a lot of
community development funds. We had planned to have a public hearing Saturday, the -- what
day, the 15t" or 17th? Not this -- what's today, the 7t" or 8t"? Today's the 8th? Next Saturday.
We had planned to have a public hearing in Overtown on Community Development funds. That
public hearing will not be held as an Overtown Public Hearing. It will be held as a district wide
public hearing and that will be held at the Carrie Meek Center in the Hadley Park, on Wednesday
-- it will be in the newspaper. That's federally mandated and everybody here, of course, will be
invited to that in wearing the hat of Community Development. Following that public hearing,
and following the recommendations of this process, there will be a town hall meeting, which will
be a preliminary meeting that we hold periodically. I think I've hosted four in six years in office.
We'll have a preliminary town hall meeting that will be, primarily and exclusively, for Overtown
residents, and of course, in that meeting, we give everybody that lives in Overtown or is a part --
property owner in Overtown, a vote. Your vote is instructive to me as the District 5
Commissioner, and on that, we have, I guess, about 20 votes over the last six years. And some
things we wanted to do -- I wanted to do, we voted not to do it, and some things that we -- that
the community wanted to do, we gave the energy to do it. So, coming out of all of these
processes, there will be an opportunity for you to register, in a format that is consistent with our
town hall meeting, your views, and it will be, again, consistent with the way we've always done
our town hall meetings. It will be consistent with the residents and the business owners -of the
Overtown community. And so, you'll have three or four processes and opportunities. There are
a number of other special projects that are coming through. I know there is going to be an MPO
(Metropolitan Planning Organization) meeting on several transportation issues. I won't get into
the 395. I hope we can stay a little bit away from 395, because if we base any of our decisions
on what's going to happen on 395, we'll be sitting here for the next 10 years waiting on a
decision. So, whether it's elevated, expanded, lowered, I think we need to assume something --
3 March 8, 2003
whatever you assume -- but continue to march. We also have the question of expanding 95 to
allow for truck traffic to be able to get down 836. So those are going to be more public hearings
that are going to be coming, and we'll keep you informed. However, the most important public
hearing that we will be holding is the public hearing relating to the final plan of this, which is not
an Overtown public hearing, but a district Southeast Overtown/Park West district. It is just as
much involved in Park West as Overtown, and we're here today to hear from you on where you
want Overtown to be 20 years from now, 10 years from now, five years from now. This is not
about projects. It's more about vision, and it's more about policy frameworks to allow the
various projects that you would very much like to see have an opportunity, from a regulatory
point of view and a land use point of view, to come forward. I would say this to the planners,
because I'm not going to stay here. I think it's important to hear everything unfiltered through
this. But I think the City has made some serious mistakes, as I've said to you privately, as I've
said to the Planning Director. Because we have such a shortage of housing in Overtown -- going
back 20 years in the `80s and early `80s, everything was housing, housing, housing. I mean, the
entire plan, as you read, is 90 percent about housing and maybe 10 percent about economic
development. As you know, when I took office in `80 -- 1997, the first thing we did was pass a
3rd Avenue Business Corridor priority and said, "Look, we're walking away, from some extent,
from the housing because it's the chicken and the egg." If you don't have a job, you can't buy a
house. And you can build a housing, but if unemployment is as high as it is, the people in
Overtown are not going to get the houses. You cannot buy a house if you don't have job, unless
you're independently wealthy. So we believe that the priority has got to be balanced between
creating businesses that have real jobs and credit enhancements, credit cleaning, along with the
housing. And so, I think, in light of that, a lot of the land and land use that has just been R-2, R-
3, R-4 needs to be carefully re -looked at'to provide the balance for a mixed use and particularly
for business expansion and business development from the east to the west. It makes no sense to
build a house right next to a night club, for example, or a church right next to a night club. And
so, we would like to make sure -- my input is, is it just because it says housing now? We'd like
for everybody to take an empty sheet of paper and look at it without regard to what the City plan
has been, but to look positively and proactively in the future. Thank you very much and we look
forward to your input.
[APPLAUSE]
Mr. Rollason: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All right. I think we'll get rolling, and I'll introduce
to you the principals of our consultants that we have, the services that we have, and the
consultants have been working on this plan for some time. We have Mr. Joseph Kohl and Victor
Dover, and they are going to take it from this point and we'll get into it. Thank you.
Victor Dover: Thank you, Frank. Let me talk to you a little bit about the sequence of things that
are going to happen next in the meeting. First, I'm going to make a presentation on the draft
CRA plan as it stands today. We're going to ask folks to look it over. Presentation will just hit
highlights of things that are in the plan, the kind of vision that's driving the plan. And then we'll
switch to public comment and questions and answers. The thought is if you could take one of
our index cards -- Andy, you can pass those out, if you'd like -- as we go -- we've got a lot of
pencils. Write down your question or comment and pass it forward or pass it to the aisle, and
Chelsa, if you could gather them as they're written up, then we'll just go through them all at
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once. And Jeff, you could just click the slides for me. OK. First, just real quickly for anybody
who doesn't know, community redevelopment area and a Community Redevelopment Agency,
we refer to this as CRA, is a technique for financing redevelopment that was created under state
statutes, as Chairman Teele described. The essence of it is -- if you could go to the next one --
that inside some boundary that's adopted, there's a determination of slum and blight in that area.
Once redevelopment begins to occur and property values increase and, therefore, the tax revenue
to government entities increases, the difference in that tax revenue -- the money that's collected
by government -- goes to the CRA to be used within the lines, within the boundary. So, it's a
way of capturing the money that's gathered through improved property values to be spent on
doing more things that improve property values. That's what's called Tax Increment Finance.
The Florida Statute Chapter that Commissioner referred to, Florida Statute 163, requires us to
have a special kind of technical plan, and requires that that be approved, in our case, by the CRA
Board, the City Commission, and the County Commission. The 163 plans have certain things
they have to include every time. So when you look at the draft, a lot of what you'll be seeing is
the specific ingredients that the statute mandates. The statute also gives us the flexibility to
include a lot of things based on community desires and vision. And so, the end document is
amalgam of those things. There are a lot of different ways that we're finding out about what
needs to go into that plan and incorporate it in the draft. One of the ways -- in the red bubble
there -- is meetings like this one for public outreach. There are a lot of experts and organizations
that are being consulted to prepare the plan. We're obviously not ignoring the old plan, nor are
we ignoring, as you see, previous plans and studies. The good work that was done on any
number of different plans and studies over the years, including the Treasure Coast Plan that
Commissioner Teele mentioned, including the recent plan produced by Urban Design Associates
out of Pittsburgh for the Overtown Civic Partnership. We're extracting from all those previous
documents everything we can. We're advisable at building it into the new plan, but if we miss
something, this is how we find out. We share the draft, mistakes and all, while it's not yet
finished, and ask for folks to tell us what needs to be improved. Next. OK. Which leads us to
this thing we're calling the Plan Update. The County government sent a very clear message to
the redevelopment agency some time back. It said, "If you want the County government to sign
off on a series of things that need the County's approval for the CRA to go do them, then the
plan must be updated and this can be delayed no longer." So, this year we have to prepare and
obtain approval for it quickly a plan update so that the various initiatives of the CRA can
continue. In part, this includes the change to the boundary and other powers of the CRA. So, a
year ago, this was the boundary of the CRA, the white line that you see inside the expressways
over to Biscayne Boulevard. Last summer, the CRA Board and then the City Commission
approved a change in that boundary. You see the new line here. It includes more of the land that
was historically considered Overtown. It reaches west of Interstate 95 and north -- thank you --
north of the expressway 395 in the new boundary. Next. Now, here's a quick glance through the
table of contents of the Redevelopment Plan Update as it stands today. Of course, we're calling
it update for now. Eventually, it will just be the redevelopment plan. There's an opening section
in the document that is meant to be kind of like the table of contents or the constitution really for
the vision. This is the main objectives. It describes a vision for Southeast Overtown and Park
West, and projects and initiatives or expenses of the CRA that don't support those goals
shouldn't be included. It describes how that maps into a physical plan conceptually. It's a
conceptual plan, not a final blueprint that people have to build exactly the way it's drawn. But
for -- what it does is it takes all of the various projects and initiatives and stitches them into one
5 March 8, 2003
drawing so you could see how they work together. And then it's broken down into what is,
under the statute, expected to be called Projects and Programs. We really think the better word is
initiatives. Obviously, projects is a word with bad connotations we don't like very much, and we
understand the problem with that. Basically, this is the stuff that the CRA is mapping out as
areas for it to work on in various ways over the coming 10 and 20 years. Then there's a section
on how that -- what that cost, what the specific improvements to infrastructure and so on are, like
streets and sewers, and so on, parks, what those improvements are to be like. The statute then
directs us to include a segment on how this will impact the neighborhood. In particular, to build
in certain safeguards and/or programs to encourage positive impacts and minimize negative ones.
We've added a segment at the very end we're calling Planned Management, which is intended to
be operating structures for the CRA. How the plan would be updated. How the organization
would check to see that they're working with the plan. Not to get us in the situation that has
happened since 1982, where an older and older and older plan fell further and further behind the
modernized objectives of the community as time wore on. The thought here is that we want a
much more living document, and the Planned Management section describes how to do that.
Next. Let's look at the goals. There are six basic goals described in the document. We're going
to -- and by the way, we have draft -- we have copies of the document, so stick with us today and
we'll pass them out, and you can take one home. First, in order to operate as a CRA, of course,
the tax base must expand. Revenue must increase so that there's something to use to do the
various projects and efforts. Goal number one says get that to happen. Promote redevelopment
and economic investment, spurs and increase in property values. And to do it, by promoting the
kinds of physical growth projects that make the community better rather worse; make walkable
streets, and livable community, and add value. Second, the plan does speak about housing. To
comment on the Commissioner's remarks as he left about housing. Clearly, the earlier plan was
too single-minded in its focus, and not focused enough on the other spectrum of uses, like
employment centers and office space, and commercial enterprises that are needed for a healthy
community and overly focused on the housing item. That doesn't mean we push housing out.
That means both/and not either/or, both housing and the other uses. In fact, what it principally
talks about is promoting a mixed use environment, in which commercial enterprises and start-up
businesses, locally owned businesses and others are encouraged to thrive in the context of an
ever expanding range of housing. So it's not housing or commerce. It's both housing and
commerce. The plan then speaks about the efforts to create jobs, efforts to build upon the history
and heritage of the place through the way the stories are told, and the way special things are
preserved. And then an overall goal, that the residents of Overtown and the property owners of
Park West need to see an ever appreciating quality of life. New folks will come and their quality
of life must rise as years go on as well. Now, I won't read all of these, but we've picked out
some highlight words for you to see a set of guiding principles. The infra -- can you drop the
lights a little bit, Darryl? Is it easy to do, Jeff? Is he with you? If we could just make it a little
darker, that would be ideal. Is there somebody on the light board? OK. Andy, would you find
somebody and get the lights dropped just a little bit because they can't see this stuff. OK. We'll
-- again, we're going to pass out a copy of the document, so you can go through this thing
syllable by syllable and make sure that it's right. But, in essence, I hope when you read through
it, what you'll see is our coming back and repeating back the things we heard at the November
workshop and other meetings as community priorities. Next. The guiding principles in the
beginning of the document tell us to make strong neighborhoods. It views neighborhoods as the
basic building block building the City, and it says, basically, to return Southeast Overtown and
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0
make Park West into neighborhoods that are of high quality. That means mixed use and
walkable. Next. Next. OK. It also talks about architectural and physical solutions for streets
and buildings. Next. And promotes this idea of "both/and" by encouraging a return to mixing
uses within buildings and within blocks, so it's not all the commercial area here and all the
residential area there. There is emphasis in the plan on the way redevelopment must occur for us
to get high quality streets and public places when we're done. This is kind of a manual on how
developers should respond on a given block. Next. Now, if you take this area inside the
expanded CRA boundary and view it as neighborhoods -- next. We just superimposed some
circles to give you a sense of scale. Each of these circles is five minutes walk from center to
edge. It basically tells us that while there's some overlap, there are principally five
neighborhoods inside the CRA area. And so, as an analysis tool, we started doing some X-rays
on the map to see what was in those neighborhoods. First, in yellow here, the pale yellow color,
you see residences. What jumps out at you, for example, is Park West is an almost residence -
free area of town located, and what you begin to realize is that along Biscayne Boulevard there is
some of that. A little bit of services, commercial and entertainment and so on still remains along
2" d and 3rd Avenue, but nothing like what once did. The blue site shows institutions, park spaces,
and govermnent or civic institutions. And then last, our parks. You begin to realize also that
there are large areas where there's not a greenspace or park within -- neighborhood centrals,
gathering space, open space within walking distance in the neighborhood. So, with that
information, we started stitching together the plan. We also have analyzed the existing City
zoning. The conclusion, basically, is that this needs to be replaced. I can be that blunt about it.
The City zoning needs to be replaced with a new tool, and the document, therefore, makes one of
the CRA's high priority projects to create a new land development regulation just for this area,
one that will be easier to use and be more focused on the right kind of results. In essence, it
suggests three new things: To take the zoning ordinance itself and replace it with one that is
focused around those smart growth goals, then make that as simple as possible. Then, since a
picture's worth a thousand words, to create a new map, not a bubble diagram of colors -- you
know, red for commercial and yellow for residential -- but a real detailed map of where buildings
should sit, where parking should go, how the neighborhood's meant to be built, and call that the
regulating plan. And then, last, to make the review of designs as done by professional urban
designers and City staff. Right now that is done only on the rarest projects, and it needs to be a
nonnal and natural and easy thing to get done for all of the development projects that come
through. Next on the street network. The plan identifies places where important
interconnections between neighborhoods for ease of movement and for identity have been lost
and need to be recreated. Next. It suggests that areas that have become so-called super blocks,
giant areas with no intervening streets, need to be re -subdivided into smaller blocks that people
can walk around and create more addresses for good things to be built next to. It analyzes the
existing pattern of streets and blocks. We're required to do this by statute. Now this is the street
network as it exists today. These superimposed blue lines are the two-way streets. Next. And
the superimposed red arrows indicate all the one-way streets. Basically, you see that downtown
and Park West and parts of Southeast Overtown and parts of the Omni area went from being
nonnal two-way streets to being one-way streets, during a time when all people were worried
about was moving cars to the suburbs as fast as possible. That needs to be rethought. And, in
fact, the City's Downtown Transportation Master Plan says rethink it. We've used that as a
starting point to propose a series of improvements to streets throughout the area that will return
the majority of the blocks and streets to two-way travel. It also suggests reestablishing some
7 March 8, 2003
street links that are missing today. The plan then sets up a tool kit for developers, large and
small. It says whether you have a small lot or a large lot, here is a pallet of building types and
kind of a system or a kit of parts for how to assemble a variety of building types. For example,
on the -- most of the avenues, a denser building provision for mixed uses, like commercial below
and apartments or offices above. And then it also recognizes that on many of the mid block
areas on the east/west streets there are opportunities to create a lower scale, more of a residential
environment with attached and detached urban housing types. And, remember, I mentioned that
we, in analyzing in the neighborhoods, began to figure out that some of the areas were deprived
of the proper amount of open space and green space, so the plan suggests where park initiatives,
parks and plazas, should be incorporated. It also recommends that parking -- the parking system
be treated differently. To date, primarily, parking is a private matter on each private lot.
Basically, if someone creates a building that generates a certain amount of parking need or
demand, they have to build parking for it right next to it or very close to it, and they have to
achieve a certain minimum number of spaces under the law. This plan recommends, instead --
can you back that up, Jeff? This plan recommends, instead, that we gradually shift to an urban
city way of doing parking, which is a series of shared parking facilities, public and privately
built, that are distributed through the neighborhoods. That will make it feasible to develop on
some of the smaller parcels, where today it's impossible. So, basically, we think that by shifting
the parking system, we can unlock redevelopment potential that up `til now has been held frozen.
OK. Now, there are a series of geographic areas that are identified in the plan for projects and
programs. First Avenue is one of them. Historically, the dividing line between Park West and
Overtown, the dividing line during the segregation and the tracks that go through there, it doesn't
have to be the great divide that it has been in the past. Next. Third Avenue, historically, the
business corridor, main street of Overtown, is identified, starting with the priority business
corridor that the Commissioner mentioned a few minutes ago, and extending north into the new
area. Little Broadway, the 2" d Avenue entertainment and cultural district, with the Lyric as its
anchor, is identified as a special initiative area. Next. The Promenade, which I'll -- I'm going to
show all these in more detail in a moment -- but the Promenade, which extends east/west from
Overtown to Bicentennial Park, across Park West, is identified as one project. That's centered
on the entertainment district that's there today. And then west Overtown. OK. Now, for each of
these areas, there will be included in the CRA Plan a conceptual diagram -type map, not a
regulation but a picture of what's envisioned and then labels that the reader can use to understand
the drawing. Remember, once the CRA Plan is adopted, developers are going to get a hold of
this thing and figure out what they can or cannot do with community support. And if they come
forward with projects that is depicted in this plan and compliant with all the regulations, then
they should be supported in implementing them. So here, for example, for 1st Avenue, it
suggests taking the lost space around the tracks and recreating it as a linear park. Next. Let's
look at that. Now, here's a view along 1st, looking south toward downtown. There's the
courthouse, Government Center, and Overtown to the west on our right, Park West to the east on
our left. What if? This is suggesting that at the time when light rail is reintroduced to downtown
Miami, connecting Miami and Miami Beach, that it be brought along this alignment where there
are existing tracks, and that the space around the light rail station be made into a beautiful linear
park, set up -- basically, instead of being a no man's land, across which one must fight one's way
just to go between Overtown and Park West, it becomes a great link between the two sides of the
tracks and a great address so that infill development on both sides can occur. Can you back that
up one? Before and after. Now, the pictures are -- again, I'm always hesitant to show them
8 March 8, 2003
because they raise expectations. People see these things and they think that's going to be built in
two years, or five years, or something. Please don't misunderstand. You're looking at a picture
like that a very long-term scenario in which a lot of individual participants; owners, developers,
financiers, government, residents, have to do their part in order for it to gradually build up to that
kind of scene. The part government can do, however, is transform the public spaces between the
buildings in short order. So the infrastructure project between buildings and the private project
of building private development along those streets go together to make the scene. Nothing
happens automatically, just because the CRA Plan is adopted. There's a lot of action that has to
follow these pictures. And let's go further down first. You can see the Arena in the background
in this view, and they're here in the neighborhood of the new federal building. Before and after.
Again, centering on the tracks is the kind of excuse for getting our act together and making these
into great City streets, instead of just windswept nowheres. And then using buildings, multi-
story, dense, urban buildings to actually shape those spaces. Can you back it up one? Before
and after. Next. Now, let's come to just outside our doors here into the Little Broadway Jazz
and Blues District of downtown Overtown. We love this term. Downtown Overtown was
suggested by Overtown Civic Partnership as a great way to explain what this area is along 2" d
Avenue. Historically, center for art and culture and entertainment and nightlife. So, what if?
Here's the Lyric Theater. So, we're inside this piece of this building today, and the Lyric has an
ambitious and doable plan for expanding the theater. And the CRA Plan update draft we've
produced says, let's go do this thing. Let's help the Black Archives and the Lyric expand. Let's
implement the long-standing idea for a Lyric plaza to be created just outside this building. Next.
And it stitches that into the plan as follows: Here's 2„d Avenue. North is up. Here's the Lyric
Theater. Here's the Lyric's expansion, and the Lyric Plaza. Here's Northwest 9t" Street and the
MetroRail. We learned a lot from the Overtown Civic Partnership Plan, which said the historic
folk -like village is a great idea, and the restoration of the Little Broadway scale, including the
restoration of the Longshoremen's hall, building upon what's already been done at the Lyric
along 2" d Avenue, is a good idea as well. And then as we move further east toward 1st Avenue
and the MetroRail, buildings should be allowed to grow taller in order to make them
economically feasible, and build buildings of substance and durability that can withstand being
next to the rail. So, we took that idea and we stitched it right into the plan. Actually, Phil, I hope
we're doing this fairly faithfully, and I'm going to -- in a little while, I'm going to give you a
microphone and you can tell us whether we are or not. So, picking up on UDA's idea, here's 9t"
Street extended across the plaza. It's on a traffic calmed basis, a kind of successor to the
pedestrian only promenade. And then -- in a combination of land that's owned by the private
trust, the County, and the CRA and City, implement the redevelopment of these blocks. Next.
Here's the existing conditions. Here's the Lyric. In the distance behind those trees is the
elevated MetroRail track. We're looking east. This road in the front of the picture is 2nd
Avenue. Next. What if Here you see the idea of 2nd Avenue restored as Little Broadway, the
Lyric Theater expanded, the Plaza, 9"' Street across the plaza, and then infill development
framing the plaza. You see, just building the plaza and then planting the trees isn't enough. We
actually have to have the buildings with doors and windows and balconies and verandas facing
those spaces to make them of quality and to make them safe. Now, the plan also suggests that
you can liberally apply what's called traffic calming techniques to that street, so that although
it's open to traffic and people can access the parking garages in the middle of the blocks behind,
that would be a very slow moving slow speed kind of vehicular access, not a high speed regular
roadway. Here's a close up of that. On 2nd itself, the suggestion is to correct the dimensions of
9 March 8, 2003
the street so that you could have properly sized sidewalks. Anything else I should add about
that? OK. Next. OK. So, we were just over in this area in downtown Overtown a moment ago.
Let's move east to the Park West area. It starts with Bicentennial Park, which is on everyone's
list as a priority for the community. The City has adopted the cultural park scenario that includes
building new homes for the Miami Art Museum and the Museum of Science, and a grand and
proper open space where the community meets the water. Biscayne Boulevard is next. The
boulevard today is a barrier between Park West neighborhoods and the park, and it's also built
like a highway and not like a city street. And not surprisingly. Next. What's there today are
parking lots and vacant lots, and a few underutilized buildings. The City and the Florida
Department of Transportation are involved in a rebuild of Biscayne Boulevard. So here's a
vision for how that should unfold. The Florida DOT (Department of Transportation) is currently
studying -- I think, for the second time -- this scenario to make sure that it works for traffic, but
when it's done, there'll be broad sidewalks, places for outdoor dining, a wide median with room
for the light rail, and a much greater connection to Bicentennial Park. More crosswalks back and
forth, for example, more places to wait between lights. Now, that's important to the CRA
because the CRA's boundary begins right here. And once Biscayne Boulevard is improved as a
street address, private property owners can come in and build the kind of urban scene that should
be along that street. And when they do, it'll improve property values and flow money into the
tax base. So -- this infill development and income that's produced from here will become the
fuel in the fuel tank of the CRA to use to spend throughout Park West and Overtown. It's also
significant that to build this properly, to build it in a way that's reasonably doable for the
property owners and developer investors, the regulations have to be changed. So this same
project of replacing the regulatory tool kit extends to this area of the plan, as well. Next. Now,
in these maps, the light yellow boxes arefor existing buildings likely to remain. As you can see,
there's a lot of vacant property or property where there are parking lots only, and property where
there are one-story warehouses or other buildings not likely to remain. And in those locations,
it's anticipated that urban infill development will occur and probably at a fairly intense level, the
tall and dense buildings -- the densest and tallest in this area working their way toward the west.
Can you back up one, Jeff? I wasn't quite ready there. OK. Now, the City controls -- the City
and CRA control an important piece of right-of-way between IOt" and l It", which used to be a
railroad track when Bicentennial Park was a refinery and a port facility. This was a railroad
track. And now that right-of-way is, for the most part, except for one little piece, controlled by
the government. The concept is to build upon the newly created Park West entertainment district
and make that mid -block right-of-way into a thing that's called the Promenade. Can you go to
the next one? To make a long story short, that requires some infill development and smart
parking strategies, including parking structures. It also includes the rehabilitation of existing
buildings. Some of you saw this picture before in November. It's been worked on since then, so
you're now seeing a newer version that incorporates more of the City staff s input. But here's
that right-of-way. Today, it serves as the alley and it's just a service side between the buildings.
As the green paint indicates, there are some buildings that have been recently improved in order
to make space for the growing club scene that's in there. But when you're -- when you use 11"'
or 10"' to arrive at one of those clubs, that's a very vehicular place for taxis and drop offs. You
go inside one of those clubs, there's just nowhere to go after that. There's nowhere to go outside
when you're inside the noisy clubs to seek a relief from the noise or to get fresh air. And there's
a shortage of good pedestrian connections east/west between Park West, heading west toward
Overtown. So the "what if' illustrates this area becoming, over time, the Promenade. Now, a lot
10 March 8, 2003
of what's in that picture is just cosmetic stuff. See, here's our green building where we've
allowed signs and video screens and lights and so on to be added. The thought is that the surface
area of the alley itself would be improved in a real basic way so that folks could use it to walk
back and forth. It would be lit and safer than it is now, and you'd encourage people that own the
clubs to open a second door onto that side, so they could have outdoor dining and what have you.
And you also see in this picture the possibilities for rehabilitation of existing buildings and the
addition of some new ones anticipated within the blocks of the Promenade. There's another
thing called the Promenade Special Area Plan, which the City and CRA have been creating that
documents this in more detail. Next. To jump back to the west a little bit here, here's Interstate
95, and here's the area newly added to the CRA's boundary, which, for shorthand purposes at the
moment, called West Overtown. This is the area centered on Reeves Park, and you can see that
same thing, where the map shows what's in the drawing and indicates existing buildings in the
light yellow, indicates new buildings in the orange yellow color, and looks forward long-term for
a time when a number of the opportunity sites have been rebuilt. Now, not all of them happen at
once. This is not one big developer's project, so this would be built up gradually. Next. Just to
-- an illustrative picture to show what's possible under that redevelopment scenario. Here's
Reeves Park. And today, Reeves is backed up to -- by the housing apartment buildings, so this is
basically an alley and the backs of buildings that are fairly inward looking. Over time, these will
need to be replaced, and so the plan anticipates that time, and suggests that when they do, they be
replaced with buildings that are focused toward the street, have enough height and scale to frame
the park, and basically recreate 9`" Street as a proper public space. So, the park wouldn't be in
the back anymore behind the units in a campus format. It would be in the front of a development
that faces the street. OK. Next. Going north, here's 395 and 3rd Avenue. This is the area just
south of St. Agnes, just east of St. Frances, historically a main street -- actually a phenomenal
area in terms of the rest of the CRA for its tree canopy, because there are so many more trees in
this area. Next. The plan anticipates that the area around the Culmer Center would be the focus
for redevelopment infill. Sorry. Down here. Here. And it suggests that as the Culmer Center
building ages, it will eventually need to be replaced. And the Culmer Center, right now, sits
campus style in a fenced off open space -- a green space that's kind of stockaded off from the
surrounding neighborhood area. Next. What if. Now, we're looking south. So, here's 395 and
here's Y'd Avenue. What if, as the 3"d Avenue Business Corridor mixed use corridor extends
north, it reaches the new Culmer Square, which is actually set up as a proper public park, not
fenced off. And the Culmer Center itself, instead of sitting as a building in the middle of the
park, would actually sit to one side in a new building and face it like a proper civic building.
And then all around that, create locations for infill of mixed use, live work, and urban housing
types. Just to orient you here, here's St. Frances Church again, and then here's 3rd Avenue. On
each one of these projects or programs and a number of others -- I just showed you highlights --
the draft plan describes the role the CRA should play or roles, the role the City should play, the
role the property owners should play, and the roles of other stakeholders. We want you to look
at that section very carefully. It's the part that will gain the most detail over the coming two or
three weeks, as the next draft of the plan is prepared. So it's a very important to part to look at.
It basically is the blueprint for CRA action or inaction on any one of these projects. So there's
the table of contents. Most of what I showed you is centered in the fourth piece, which is
projects and programs. Next. Now what happens next? We've got a draft. In fact, a lot of folks
said in November, "Give us the plan, and then we'll tell you what we don't like about it or what
we want added to it, or what needs to be fixed." So, we've prepared a draft. There are holes in
11 March 8, 2003
it. There are things that need to be added. It's not complete. It has mistakes. Undoubtedly, it
has mistakes, but we're giving it to you, works and all, at this forming stage, and asking folks to
look at it. Now, we've suggested to the CRA and they've embraced the idea that we create a
special group, a group that's designed to go out of business real quick after it does its job, but an
informal stakeholder review group. It will be as large as -- include as many members as there
are volunteers. It will be no limitations on participation. Anybody that wants to be on this -- in
this group can be in this group, and there are only a few simple obligations for people that sign
up. First, they have to read it. In other words, we're trying to go now from a draft plan to a real
one the CRA Board can comfortably adopt, knowing that it is what the community wants. So
they have to look at that draft and give us comments. Second, return those comments to the
CRA office this month. It's not that long. Everybody can make it through it and mark it up.
You can write notes in the margins, and just give us the book back. You can write a long and
detailed letter. You can write things on the back of an envelope. Whether there are a few
comments or a lot of comments from any one person or group, we would like to have those back
at the end of the month. And then we'll have a special meeting to go through them. Basically, to
look at the draft plan in more detail, in a smaller group, in a conference room style setting, and to
incorporate the comments and make sure we understand the comments correctly. When we have
all that, we're going to turn it back to the CRA and say, "OK. Here it is. Here's the plan. It's
been checked by the community. It's been checked by the staff. It's been checked by the
consultants. And so, CRA Board, is this what you want to adopt?" It will be before them as a
question at that time. We don't want to do that without taking this step first. Next. Jeff, there's
a timeline -- I think -- could you just open up the slides order view there? Escape. Just click
"escape." OK. You -- bring up this slide right here, please. Sorry, I dropped that one out by
accident. OK. OK. Just to show you what happens and where we are in the process. This is
today. We adopted a new boundary last summer. We've prepared a draft of the plan. Staff is
going over it. You're being asked for input, and this part of the public input is today and the
stakeholder review group. And when we're done with that, we hand in the final document to the
CRA and ask them to approve it. After that, the City will have its Plamling Advisory Board
review it. The City Commission has to act, and we know these are the same people, at least, at
the moment, but they -- this requires an action by both groups. So they'll meet again as a City
Commission and approve it again, and that's the day when it gets handed to the County. This
document will be shipped over to the County. There will be a detailed review by the County
staff. It's conceivable that there would be additional revisions. And then, coming soon -- we
assume this summer -- the County Commission will do two things: They'll approve the new
boundaries and they'll approve the updated plan. OK. Now, if we could bring up the lights.
Does everybody have one of those cards and pencils, index cards. And Frank, I'd ask you to
help us with this, if you don't mind. You have one of the mics still? OK. Anybody want to
hand forward -- and also, we have copies of the plan. Andy, could you and Joe hand out copies
of the plan so people -- everybody that wants one is welcomed to take one. OK. Chelsa, would
you like to help me sort these? Let's see how -- let's just see what we have first. Anyone else
with an index card? Comments or questions. All right. We're going to -- we'll read these back,
and then we'll also take open Q&A (Question & Answer). Any other cards? All right, sir.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: No, no. Take it with you if you'd like. Take as many as you like.
12 March 8, 2003
Mr. Dover: The question was, on the stakeholder review group, do you have to sign up today or
is that it? And the answer is absolutely not. We -- the more the merrier, and the sooner the
better. Jeff, you got a flag there. OK. All right. One of the cards we received indicated the
interest in a skateboard park.
Unidentified Speaker: Skate park.
Unidentified Speaker: OK. That come from you? OK. All right. That's a good idea. Any
comments about that? Yes, sir.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Reverend Ross: Conspicuously absent in your presentation was that parcel of land that runs
from the expressway, between 2nd Avenue and the expressway, and about 8"' Street and 141n
Street, and that affects us directly. And over and over again, as we hear these presentations --
even as you have extended -- you've extended north, you've extended west, and you have a big
plan about that, but you're planning around us, and I'm very concerned about that. I'm the
pastor of the historic Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located on the corner of 3rd Avenue
and 9`h Street, and we are constantly being overlooked, and I personally don't like that. And I'm
usually a relatively quiet person, but you all are causing that thing in me to rise.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Dover: Chelsa, who's gathering index cards? Yes, ma'am.
Rosa Green: From now -- oh.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Dover: Could you tell everybody your name, just to remind us?
Ms. Green: My name is Rosa Green, Overtown resident, as a matter of fact, over 60 years. I left
and I come back, and I'm over here now. I live over here. But since I retired ten years, I don't
know how many times -- I hate to sound negative, but we're about tired now -- and I came in
saying this -- of looking at pictures and seeing beautiful plans. I'm sure the City has 50. We
have told -- how many times do you -- I mean, you guys are really smart. Even a Special ED
(Education) student should understand now about what we want here in Overtown. We are tired
of seeing pictures and maps. Now, will you tell me how long would it take to get -- and you
know, I'm a senior citizen. I was hoping, in my lifetime -- and you've got planners. Why do
you keep paying these people and you don't never do nothing? You don't never implement the
plan. I'm an elementary school teacher and that's one thing: We had to make plans, but we
certainly had to implement disenfranchise. And so, now when do you plan -- I know now that
the Mayor is getting some new people in place, and I read about them and I just hope they're
going to make a difference. Because I'm telling you, it might not never go back, as the Reverend
said, to what it was, but it can even be better or be different so we can have a livable community.
13 March 8, 2003
Now when -- I'm going to stop and let you answer, but when do you plan to put the first mortar
or the brick, or when do you plan to start doing something here in Overtown? Because the -- let
me just tell you about this building here on 5"' Avenue that they ran out there -- after I told you
that it was all grown up -- and put a few cinderblocks there, but for the whole week -- because
I'm home everyday and I pass there everyday -- they haven't been back there. Now, that's going
to be sitting there for another five years before they finish those houses. I'm talking about 5"
Avenue and 6t" Street. They got a bunch of cinderblocks there with a bunch of trash, and I
haven't seen those builders for one week. So, please, somebody try to answer these questions. I
thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Rosa.
Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE) what the CRA does to implement --
Ms. Green: Where's the mic?
Mr. Rollason: Let me bring you up -to -speed with a few things so that we can understand at least
what I understand at this point. The CRA is a facilitator to try help things or move things along
for these projects to happen. Some of the smaller projects or some of the smaller grants, we get
involved in them on a one-on-one type of situation. But the big projects, our role is to do exactly
what you see happening here today. It is to get a plan into place, and the next thing -- and I'm
not saying things haven't been planned to death, OK. But there are some legal requirements of
planning for us to be able to continue to exist, and we're a little bit ahead on the Southeast
Overtown/Park West side. We're quite a bit ahead. On Eleanor's side with the Omni, we're just
getting into getting involved with the update of the plan. The County requires of us to have this
plan updated, and what we're finding now is as we go forward with the things that we want to
do, the County doesn't want to hear from us until this plan is updated and has been approved.
The boundary changes that Dover Kohl has spoken to and shown you have been approved by the
CRA Board, and have been approved by the City Commission. They now have to be approved
by the County Commission. The County Commission doesn't want to look at it until the plan is
updated. Another item that we're looking at is going out on a bond issue, selling some bonds for
being able to do some infrastructure work within the Southeast Overtown/Park West. We
haven't talked about doing any bonds on the Omni side, but in the Southeast Overtown/Park
West side, we're definitely talking about selling some bonds. Again, we're going to have to go
back to the County to get their permission and get their blessing for us to go forward. They don't
want to talk to us until we have the plan update complete. So, it's imperative that we get the plan
update complete. Money wise or role wise to the CRA, the CRA can do many things under
Chapter 163, but I think what's of a lot of importance in this area -- and those of you that have
tried to do some developing here -- is that the infrastructure is woefully lacking. The water,
sanitary, your storm sewers, fiber cable, all the things that need to go in the ground, we should be
playing a major role in coordinating that and making that happen with our bond money, and with
the different utilities and so forth. So when the developer comes and has a piece of property and
wants to go forward with some development, he's not facing -- as what some of the people are
facing in the club district -- two hundred thousand dollar ($200,000) bill from the County with
their impact fees to bring their water in. So, when you say, "What will the CRA be doing?" The
CRA should be shepherding the plan through the process. We're also going to work hand in
14 March 8, 2003
hand with the Planning Department from the City so that we can not only finish up this part of
the plan so we can go forward, but we want to expand what these planners are doing and get the
regulatory plan in place. When the regulatory plan is done, a developer will have a total package
with what they can do, and the doors will already be open for them to go forward. They won't
have to have the problems with going back with zoning variances or overlays, or how far the
setbacks are going to be, or even down to the details dealing with lighting and fagades and that
type of thing. We want to address in a regulatory plan so that there' s a package. There's a plan
and there's a regulatory plan to go with that, so that developers can implement and go forward.
And I think, quite frankly, that if we're able to accomplish that, the developers are going to come
and, hopefully, they're going to build according to what our plan -- what we lay out to do. I
think what Commissioner Teele laid out was pretty clear. Property rights -- developers have a
lot of rights with their piece of land, and it becomes a difficult scenario if the CRA thinks they're
going to beat somebody on the head and tell them what they're going to build. What we need to
do instead is to have a plan that is accepted by the community that has some sense to it from the
standpoint of development and making a profit with what you are trying to do. So, therefore,
developers will come and say, "This is what I want to be a part of because there's a plan and I
can be this piece and somebody else can be this piece." And when this thing starts to get put
together as a mosaic, we're all going to make out well. The community is going to improve, and
we can make a profit. And make no mistake, there aren't any developers coming in here develop
out of the goodness of their heart. That's not the process. They're coming in here to make a
profit. What we're trying to do is put a plan together that will fit with the community and allow
the development to go forward. So does that --
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah, that's good. We completely appreciate, Ms. Green, the fact that it
feels the community's been planned to death, or planned before, planned enough times. Two
thoughts about that. One, some of those previous plans, which, if you study in detail, are
different from what's being put forth here, were done in a time when the future -- the interest in
private development groups in investing in Overtown was questionable. There were an era of
redlining and an era of Overtown being skipped over, no longer thought of as a destination of
choice, in the way that Dr. Fields said on the videotape. Not thought that way, but thought of as
the area that had been damaged by the expressways and by all of the other misguided things. So
the -- it's no surprise that when those pictures were drawn, people just didn't line up to do them.
Now, what -- big things have changed. For one thing, developers -- private developers all over
the country rediscovered cities in the meantime, and other areas have been revitalized, and the
confidence is higher now. And today, there are developers lining up. They come to meetings. I
mean, you convened a group a week ago. It was astonishing, the number of private developer
groups that were saying, "The plan's in place and you're ready to go. We'll join in. We want to
be part of Overtown." We found that encouraging. One of them is Phil Bacon's Overtown Civic
Partnership. They've been doing it -- work to get development to be feasible, and you talk to
those people all the time. Do you want to comment on --
Unidentified Speaker: I just wanted to say that, in deference to the pastor, one of the things that
we hope to be doing -- as you know, we're at the Dorsey House and we are representing a
number of collaborative interests, like BAME (Bethel African Methodist Epsicopal), and St.
Agnes, and St. Johns. We still have on our radar screen -- and our particular involvement has
been that as -- we've aided and facilitated some property acquisitions in the area that you're
15 March 8, 2003
talking about with the idea being that that area would be used to build out the folk life village as
it was originally conceived. And the other thing about planning. One of the things that happens
as these plans moves along is that a lot of things happen below the ground that are very
expensive that you know, where a lot of money goes. The CRA, as an example, has just come
down 91n Street, and they're beginning to put all of the overlying utilities underground in
preparation for the kind of development build out that you see anticipated in some of the slides
here. That is a process that takes a while to do, and it takes an awful lot of money to do that.
But I just wanted to assure you, as pastor, that from a private standpoint, the -- that area that you
questioned is on the radar screen for housing and other cultural activities in the area, and that
some movement is taking place with the help of the CRA with respect to infrastructure right
now.
Reverend Ross: My concern is that we have been invited here to see what seems to be an
omnibus plan. See, that's my concern. And we have all of these plans that are being planned
around the area that I talked about, and you didn't say a single word. I mean, it was
conspicuously absent. Now, my concern is, what am I here for? To know what you're going to -
- where your expansion is going to be? I didn't come here for that. I came to see what is going
to happen right there in the area where I work, and the impacts on the people that I serve, and
that was conspicuously absent. Now, that things are going on, is not my concern. If there is a
plan, I just felt like the plan should have been presented here, even if all these things are
happening in terms of the Folklore Village, it is a part of the total plan and it was absent. That
was my concern. That's all. It's not a big thing, but it's important because we have had things
to happen. Unfortunately, I've been here for 12 years, and I've seen things happen and come
right to 3rd Avenue and stop. And it's happened over and over again. I've even gone out of the
church, walked over to people who are working on 9t" Street and 3rd Avenue and said, "Are you
coming across the street and do something around our church?" And the people that I'm talking
to, all they know is that they told us to stop at 3rd Avenue. Now, that does not make me feel that
if I don't hear anything about what's going on, that they are not going to continue to stop at 3rd
Avenue and exclude us. That's my concern, and I think it's a legitimate concern. If we're going
to develop, have us, our church, our area involved in the discussions about the planning, even
though -- and I know Dr. Fields is a very astute person, and she's not going to let anybody do
anything around here without including the Black Archives, but that's not my point. My point is,
if you have a plan, I would like to be able to see it.
Unidentified Speaker: OK. Well, remember one thing (INAUDIBLE)
Reverend Ross: Does that make sense, ladies and gentlemen? Thank you.
Mr. Rollason: Reverend, let's talk about the 3`d Avenue piece that you're talking about there.
Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE) close to this map, Reverend. You might all look closely
at that map behind Frank, too. It doesn't leave it out.
Mr. Rollason: The --
Unidentified Speaker: This map.
16 March 8, 2003
Mr. Rollason: What Chairman Teele talked about earlier was the MPO and the plans that are
coming with other things dealing with transportation. There's an element that is involved there
at Y-d Avenue by Mount Zion, where that entrance is going up onto I-95, and it involves the Port
of Miami, and it involves a way to get those trucks off, in and out of Overtown. So, it is
important that we all be attuned to what FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) and the
Port of Miami have these things in mind to come and widen this street, widen that street, and that
entrance right there coming up onto I-95 northbound is going to play a very important role as to
how we go forward. The CRA's boundary, as it presently exists, stops at 3"d Avenue, and what
we're looking to do is extend west over to 5th, and the ability for us to be able to do that is in the
plan that has to go before the County to have that approved. And again, like I say, we need this
plan updated to do that. .But we have every intent right by that church to go and -- you know,
you and I met on that to discuss that earlier, to take care of what our role is going on the west
side of 9th Street and abutting up against that I-95. We're sort of in a holding pattern, too,
waiting to see what FDOT's going to do, because FDOT bought that building right across the
street from you that we were looking at, and we talked about putting a tower or doing some kind
of edifice there that you could look down 9th Street Mall and see that. And now we need to look
and see what the plans are going to be from FDOT, and how they're going to make that turn
getting up onto I-95, and whether or not there's going to be any plans that 3"d Avenue is going to
be some kind of corridor to come down to get to get up onto that I-95. And that's going to have
a tremendous impact in that neighborhood, if that's the impression that FDOT has. Our position
with FDOT has been that we don't want that; that we're not looking for that to become another
north/south corridor to get out of town, or to get up onto the expressway. So, it's very important.
And the Commissioner made it -- you know, he just sort of touched on it. But he sits on the
MPO, and he will be very much involved. And we've met with FDOT on several occasions,
along with our engineering consultant, H.J. Ross, who's here today. We have a couple
representatives with the CRA's engineering consultant, and they are very well in tuned with what
we want to take place. And also, you've got another area to deal with, where you dump down
coming back off on 8th Street, coming on the west side of I-95. And also, they're looking to add
another lane into I-95, which will close off that section between the north and southbound, so
that where you're going over Athalie Range Park and all that, the sunlight is just going to --
about going to be gone. So there are other elements that are taking place, which are in a broader
or bigger picture of what's happening, that has an impact on Overtown than just what we sit here
with the CRA plan. And that's why it's important for people to understand that the CRA does
not drive the entire redevelopment. We are an element of what takes place. We're not the center
of the wheel. Everything doesn't revolve around us. We're a piece, and the County is a piece,
and the MPO is a piece, and the state is a piece. And all of that starts to come together and have
an impact. And when we go and sit at the table with FDOT, we're much the same like you feel
when you come and sit at the table with us, is like, you know, "Am I going to have a say? Are
we going to be able to divert this or have some kind of influence on what's going to happen?"
And that's why it's extremely important, as these meetings take place, that the community
participates, and that the CRA's role will be to certainly make you aware when these meetings
are going to be, that you come and you participate.
17 March 8, 2003
Unidentified Speaker: Frank, let's take the comment from Dr. Fields, and then I have -- a lot of
people have now written down questions, and I'd like to read them and we'll take them one at a
time.
Dr. Dorothy Fields: Reverend Ross, I didn't get all of your comments, but I might say that
certainly the interest in this area did not start with the Folk Life Village. There was -- we have
documented, of course, that the -- that Mount Zion Church, starting in March of 1896, its
presence certainly is a part of all of us. We started there in 1903, so we've been with the church
for 100 years, and never would I allow anything to happen that would not include that part of 3rd
Avenue. Specifically, what we have been doing, for the last three or four months, the Overtown
Advisory Board and the Empowerment Zone Overtown Assembly has been on the back of
FDOT, which wanted to broaden or do something -- expand the entrance to 1-95 right there at 8tn
Street. We refused to let them do that, Reverend Ross. It's a matter of record. In fact, they met
with us three or four times. It's been over, at least, since November. And the last time they
came to our board, both the Overtown Advisory Board and the Empowerment Zone, they have
assured us that their recommendation for that expansion, as it relates to the port, will be 6t" Street
and not 8t" Street. Reverend Ross, we fought for that, and I would not want you to leave here
thinking that the interest for the Overtown Civic Partnership, the Overtown Advisory Board, and
the Overtown Assembly excludes any part of Overtown. We work very hard. We go to all of
those meetings, and whenever there -- anything comes up, we know that that was wrong for them
to even consider 8t" Street, totally wrong, and it was not easy to get them to change that as an
alternative. And so, what we need, though, is to have more people from the churches to come
and support us as we try to influence those who are doing what we know is wrong.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you, Dr. Fields. Certainly, just to clarify, it used to be that the
boundary of the CRA ended at the edge of the property of Mount Zion Church and went no
further west. Now, it will go farther west and so it includes the expressway and areas that are
west of -- Mount Zion ends up being more in the heart of the center of the CRA boundary as
expanded, rather than on the edge. So that's -- it is included in the plan. We'll endeavor to make
a better presentation from here on out in explaining what's envisioned for that part of 3rd
Avenue, and I look forward to sitting with you and going over the map in more detail. A lot of
people gave us cards, so I want to read some of them to you and then we'll look to answer them.
Here's one. "From an artist viewpoint, what happened to the mural on the side" -- assuming on
the side of the theater. "Will it be replaced or painted someplace else? It depicted some valuable
history that needs preserving." That's -- in anticipation, the maps illustrate the anticipation of
infilling on some vacant lots and right now, a couple of interesting murals, including the one we
saw on this building, face vacant lots. And I don't know. That's a good question. I -- we hadn't
thought about that. Has anyone discussed --
Mr. Rollason: Well, I had an interesting conversation the other morning with Phil Bacon and Dr.
Fields about that mural, and they made it very clear to me what their position was on that. My
understanding is that it came about through an order from the City dealing with the deteriorated
shape that it was in and that somehow, through NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team), it was
ordered that it had to be painted over, and it was painted over. I find that a little difficult to
understand how that came to be, but I am going to check with some of the City people try to
understand how that happened. In the meantime, it has happened. I've been asked to -- what can
18 March 8, 2003
the CRA do to help put the mural back or have it painted on a canvas to where it can be
displayed at certain ceremonial times that we -- you know, the community would desire to put it
back, and I'm going to look at that. It's not an inexpensive endeavor by any matter of means.
But that's what my understanding is what happened. It was a violation of the code and that's
what took place.
Unidentified Speaker: Here's another citizen question. This one's from a developer. "How do
you respond to the perception that Overtown and the majority of the western segments of the
CRA are extremely unattractive places for developers to invest?" This question is interesting in
a couple of ways. One of the reasons why -- Ms. Green, one of the reasons why we draw pretty
pictures is because sometimes it's difficult for people who have -- who are bringing their money
from outside, let's say, and want to invest, it's difficult for them to imagine what could be or
would be under a revitalization. So sometimes the illustrations show that. Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Green: And for the record, I didn't submit that question. However, I (INAUDIBLE)
Unidentified Speaker: No.
Ms. Green: Is my name on that?
Unidentified Speaker: No, no. This was from a developer.
Ms. Green: (INAUDIBLE).
Unidentified Speaker: No. I'm answering you about the pretty pictures.
Ms. Green: (INAUDIBLE). Yes, OK.
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah, the pretty pictures. I mean, because how many more meetings can
we sit through with pretty pictures. I understand. But one of the things the pictures do is they
unlock in the imagination that would be investors and they imagine, "Oh, if I pull out my
checkbook and invest here, here's what it could generate." One of the reasons we do plans is so
that somebody who's building one little tiny part of the neighborhood can see how what they do
is supposed to hook up with what others are going to do up and down the block or across the
street and nearby, to be part of some larger whole. So the -- that's -- as frustrating as it is to go
through all this planning" -- wish there was just more action and less talk -- they have to do that
step. Another -- but the business people have to be convinced that it's profitable.
Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE) the illustrations that you have. The illustrations depicting
the pretty pictures for people to invest in the future. I'm curious to why are they so dramatic that
they go from lot to ten -- I mean, that one in particular of the railroad tracks shows an amazing
amount of development. - And I think it's hard for people to envision because the ideas, the
infrastructural work is going to happen. We're going to lay cable down. We're going to take
wires down. We're going to increase the pipe. That's not going to happen overnight. So I'm
wondering, where's the drawing in between putting the wire in the street, malting the pipe bigger
so somebody can put a 20-story high rise; and someone painting a building; somebody putting up
19 March 8, 2003
one building; somebody putting up two, because that's 25 years down the line. That's
impossible to implement within 10 years.
Mr. Rollason: Yeah. I'd like to have Phil Bacon respond to that a little bit, because people that
are coming with the visions, people that are coining with plans are not coming with a nickel dime
operation. And I think we need to start to get on board with that. I don't think it's going to be
something that goes 15 or 20 years down the road.
Phil Bacon: The only thing that I could add to that is that when you look at the site control
issues, particularly in a place like what we're calling downtown Overtown, you have maybe a
handful of property owners now that have bought the property, that have the financial ability to
actually develop the property in a way that you see there. So unlike what may have happened in
the past, now we're looking at segments of the development area that have been assembled. And
frankly, if the infrastructure is there and the land regulations are there, these projects maybe are
not going to happen overnight, but I think they're very possible to occur within a five to 10-year
framework.
Unidentified Speaker: But the (INAUDIBLE) suggest that we (INAUDIBLE) the paint up fix up
rehab (INAUDIBLE). I think -- what I'm hearing from residents -- you know, the people that I
know that have lived here, and some of the people that I know live underneath the expressway,
and people I know that have just bought a warehouse and are sitting on it, is how are we going to
get from point A to Z? You know, no one's seeing B, C, D. We all want to, you know, be part
of the process, not just the end. The means are so significant as to how this community's really
going to develop and we keep -- and I think it's great to focus on the end but, you know, where --
I want to see the drawings of the means, personally. I do and I think a lot of the residents do, as
well because everyone's here.
Unidentified Speaker: The next person asks: Will design standards be incorporated as part of
the zoning overlay or zoning changes, or will they be somehow otherwise codified? The
working assumption, at the moment, goes like this: The CRA will say they want it as a project
or to be done, and in order to enable the development investment and all the other improvements.
So, the City will replace its land development regulations with a new set. Hopefully, a
simplified set or at least a set that's directed at the outcomes depicted in the pictures. Then we
write that up. We draw that up. We create a draft ordinance and that goes before the City
Commission and the City Commission has to vote it into law. There are some other steps along
the way. There's public hearings and so on. And when they do, this new regulation takes effect.
Now, what's going to be in that regulation? The working assumption is that it would include a
lot more design specifics than the existing law. Is that fair to say, Ana? Includes, for example,
lines drawn on the map that indicate where the front of the building is meant to be situated so
that you can get some predictability to the street. That would release people from the existing
setbacks where they're an inhibition or release people from other rules where they're an
inhibition. And hold them other standards. It would tell them no blank walls, for example,
facing streets. Doors and windows and balconies, and verandas and porches have to face streets,
not blank walls. So that kind of thing would go in there, as well. Now, how much farther than
that can we go? Can we regulate architectural style or materials or workmanship? You can do
more or less of that, depending on what the City wants to adopt. Our working assumption is that
20 March 8, 2003
when the CRA puts money into a project or promotes a project, it ought to be a project that
extends the cultural heritage of the area and promotes a look to buildings that means they belong.
Masonry, for example, is very much part of what's been built here. So the -- that's -- you have
two tools. You have the rules and you have the money. And if you're going to spend CRA
money on a project, you can be more demanding than you might be under the zoning -- under the
rules. Did any of that violate where you think we're going, Ana.
Mr. Bacon: George, I just wanted to add one other thing, too. As an artist, you know that
everything starts with a vision. Everything starts with a plan and so that if the person -- if that
happens to be you along the railroad tracks that has one warehouse there, if you have a picture of
what that -- what your neighbors are going to do down the block, down the street, down the road,
you're more likely to invest there, particularly if that's codified with this -- through this kind of
process. And I think that's all that's being said here, and there are some significant other things,
like I said, site control issues are starting to come together.
Unidentified Speaker: Two more other cards have to do with this thing in a lot of ways. One is,
how will the community parking proposals mitigate the individual parking requirements parcel
by parcel? Again, we haven't written that zoning regulation yet, but it's thought that what that
would -- zoning regulation would do is greatly reduce, if not eliminate, minimum parking
requirements so that people -- you remember the story we heard about in some detail last fall in
which someone who was "X" number of parking spaces short under a law adopted for some
place citywide for his zoning district, he had a very difficult time meeting that, given the
constraints of the property. And it wasn't because the parking need was there or because there
were people desperate to park in those spaces for his business. It was because the riles said
you've got to have that many parking spaces or you can't make the improvements to the facade.
If we could reduce or eliminate minimum parking requirements, we'll make a lot of that kind of
small scale reinvestment feasible. That doesn't mean we (INAUDIBLE) to occupy existing
buildings and build new buildings with new occupants. They're going to have parking need, so
you still have to have parking. So the suggestion in the plan is that you create these parking
structures through public/private partnerships in which the CRA can be a participant, which are a
new and expanded shared supply, but that's -- you're switching there from every man or woman
for him or herself on parking to upper district wide approach to parking. Now that'll get more
detailed as the regulation is written, and I'm sure they will be subject of long debates with the
City staff and City Attorneys and developers and so on, exactly how the details should be. Are
there any more of those cards available because there are a few people that want to write -- add
in something. I want to make sure the people who actually wrote down get their things heard
first. The next person says -- or this is a comment. They recommend support and amended
CDBG -- that's Community Development Block Grant -- finding process that divides the total by
five districts. Provide an updated listing of vacant property ownership and contact numbers in
Southeast Overtown/Park West, and also provide free environmental assessments on all vacant
property. They recommend marketing Southeast Overtown/Park West for franchise
development -- which we heard a little bit about this morning -- and to provide new lighting,
signage and sidewalks in the area and upgrade landscape standards in the area. So I think all of
these are just recommendations. I don't see a question in any of that. This seems consistent with
the kinds of things that are in the plan. Another person writes that the priority is jobs. Jobs over
housing. Housing is not -- if you don't have work on a steady basis for five to 10 years, you
21 March 8, 2003
won't make it -- there's no house if there's no work. And this person writes that people won't
hire. Another card says: Promote the following, starting now: Help new businesses. Develop a
reason for people to come here. And it gives some examples: Hotel and restaurant school and
outlet, bakery and cooking classes, beauty schools and outlets, cleaners and clothing cares and
outlets. And they add, it's an emergency (INAUDIBLE). Enough talk and planning. All right.
Now who had their hand up? Yes, sir. Do you still have a mic, Frank?
Grady Mohammed: Grady Mohammed, president of Grady Mohammed and Associates, 1730
Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 201-W. What I see is a combination of two things, especially with
the expanded boundaries. That's almost a pre -Hope 6, because what you're doing with the
expansion is nothing but taking in all of the public housing that's currently there. And
unfortunately what the problem is Miami -Dade County is having with Hope 6, they can't get that
straight. And as I see with the expansion of the potential boundaries, that Miami -Dade County
housing agency is going to have to be a partner in the redevelopment of the public housing,
because Overtown is 630 acres, about 300 of those acres are public housing land. So some of the
most valuable land that's currently in Overtown -- there is -- technically, there is no Overtown,
because the zip code used to be 33127 when I was growing up. The zip code is now 33136, so
Overtown technically doesn't exist. You don't hear anything -- used to read articles -- negative
articles about Overtown. You don't hear anything about Overtown in The Miami Herald or any
newspaper. If you read anything, it's only positive articles. So the redlining and all the stuff that
used to happen is being done. I beg to differ, sir. It won't be 25 years. It'll be within the next
five to 10 years for the simplistic reason now, the CRA controls most of the land. The problem
that's still, I see, is what's going to happen with Camillus House? Because that -- I moved out ,of
Overtown in 1980 -- September 5"', 1988, when I purchased a home, and Camillus House was a
problem then. Because in the article that came out "The Pioneers," which was talked -- it talked
about -- everything that's currently here is being built from the courthouse, the new arena, now
Park Plaza, the old towers, those was things that were part of a whole master plan 15, 20 years
ago.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Mohammed: No, no. Is now being bits and pieces. The funding has to be in place now.
But prior to that, Camillus House has always been the sticky point. My question, Mr. Rollason --
and again, specifically relating to the 3rrd Avenue Historic Corridor Business. We have resolution
98-16 that was effective immediately upon its adoption, which was the million dollars
($1,000,000) to help assist the 3rd Avenue businesses. At the last board meeting, we just gave,
unfortunately, about six hundred and seventy thousand dollars ($670,000) back to the federal
government. So my question is, when is we going -- yes, ma'am, unfortunately. When are we
going to implement that specific reso to assist those businesses on the 3rd Avenue Corridor with
that specific resolution, is my question.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you, Grady. Frank, why don't you get your mic back, and then --
there are two things in that, if you could update everyone on, it'll be helpful. One is the
resolution and prior to that, your question was about Camillus House.
Mr. Mohammed: Yes. That's something that's going to be (COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
22 March 8, 2003
Unidentified Speaker: All right. And then -- and Frank, while you get ready for those questions,
couple of quick announcements. Remember, this sheet, the one that says Stakeholder Review
Group at the top, if you -- we need you to fill one of these in, if you haven't done it already, and
volunteer to read the plan and get back with comments, if you have it. Also, there are
refreshments upstairs. So at any time, now or before you leave, you're welcomed to get
something to eat or drink. Frank.
Mr. Rollason: I'll just talk about Camillus House for a minute. Camillus House -- the moving of
the Camillus House, although the CRA plays an element in dealing with that, and certainly we
agree that the move has to take place. I think, that's not even up for debate. The question is
dealing with the City Commission: Where are we going to relocate? Now, I'm certainly not
going to speak for the City Commissioners. If you have been to any of those meetings, they get,
I would say, a little bit heated in how this is going to go. I don't think the 7t" Avenue site,
Florida Department of Transportation -- when I was saying FDOT earlier, for those of you that
are not familiar with that, that's the Florida Department of Transportation and they handle the
expressways, and the land that runs along the sides of those expressways belongs to FDOT. And
FDOT really doesn't want to maintain those pieces of land. If they don't have something that's
in the future for an expansion of a particular part of the expressway, they are more than willing
to look at the local community and see if we can find something the local community would like
to use this for. And now there are some discussions going on again with co -locating several
government facilities there, along with the Camillus House, and I think the Mayor and the
Commissioners are dealing with each other. And police training is one of the things they're
looking at. And now the University of Miami has come into the picture from the hospital, and
they're looking at maybe locating something and not stopping at the property where they
originally talked about, but going further north and taking that whole piece along the 7"' Avenue
Corridor that would allow several different entities to be co -located. So I know that those
discussions are taking place and I think everybody's working towards the goal of making the
move with that. The other issue that you talk about, Grady, I don't have an answer for you,
when you say when is that going to be implemented. And I'd be lying to you if I stood here and
told you that I did. I think it doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at what's been happening in
the paper over the last few weeks with articles about the CRA. And we've got some problems
in-house with cleaning things up, and we're looking at that. And to be quite honest with you,
I'm not 100 percent sure where we sit financially. And in my position, I'm not looking to be
bringing more extensive grants and loans and programs forward to have the board vote upon,
only to tell the recipients that there was a little clause in there that said "if funding's available."
If we take something forward for somebody to get a grant or a loan, I'm looking for the money to
be there, that that's what's going to take place. And I think that's the intent of the person that
comes forward that wants to do something. So, I don't have an answer to what you're saying,
but it's one of those that's on the radar screen and I'm trying to filter through and figure out
where we are.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Chelsa Arscott (Policy and Program Development Administrator, CRA): As a follow up to Mr.
Rollason's response to that latter question, a question here says, "What can be done now to
23 March 8, 2003
continue current small business development occurring in Overtown, much similar to the Omni
Park Wes?" And one of the things that Mr. Rollason touched upon is the fact that we don't have
finding available for a lot of these loans and grant assistance. We recently engaged the firm of
the National Development Council and one of their initiatives is to reestablish the Grow America
Fund, which is a fund which is an SPA -type fund and they link with local banks and they
leverage these funds. And it's one of the things that we're trying to reestablish to ensure that
these financing options are available for a small business. And in the other project that we are
moving forward with is a facade program, which will further facilitate business development and
revitalization in the area. So those two programs --
Unidentified Speaker: Does everybody know who you are?
Ms. Arscott: Chelsa Arscott, CRA, Policy and Program Development Administrator. Thanks.
Unidentified Speaker: All right. Yes, sir. Frank.
Unidentified Speaker: We threw your card away. (INAUDIBLE).
Unidentified Speaker: I don't know. Skateboard card?
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah.
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah, OK.
Orin Cohen: Hi. My name is Orin Cohen, 1241 North Miami Avenue. I would like to respond -
- you know, I brought up the point about the business developments in the neighborhood. I think
what I'm trying to say, on behalf of a small -- not so small group of us young guys -- small time
developers, if I may say, who are trying to put actual kind of like owner/user type businesses on
the street. Setting aside the help in funding and grants and loans, I think and I believe we put it
together probably a few months ago -- there are the things that we're looking for support that we
think can be done immediately that will give a little facelift to the neighborhood, and that could
be anywhere from, you know, trees, even meters for cars on the street. Let's make this place
look habitable. Let's make this place a little bit more, you know, with open arms because when
people come from out of town -- and there is some hype about the neighborhood. And I'm
talking about people who are willing to invest and, particularly, private investors and a lot of us
have those type of investors behind us, so we did things in other cities. And when they come
here, they don't see enough going on, then they sort of get discouraged. So, we're asking the
CRA to give us a hand to promote the market, but not in pamphlets, not in meetings, not in
places where you can't see, but in actual neighborhoods. You know, maybe signs, maybe people
doing little sandwich shops, Laundromats. I don't care what. Let's put a big sign "coming up
soon. Coming up soon." Things like that do not cost a lot of money. You know, landscaping.
We don't have to go to the top of the line landscaping, but if we do something even for now --
even if after the big infrastructure is coming we have to take it out, it will help us bring those
kind of investors in and help us get things going. And I'm a great believer that if you don't start
from the small retail guy on the street, you will never get the big guys up. I've done things like
that in Chelsea, when nobody would go into Chelsea, you know. I had my own little place there
24 March 8, 2003
that opened up. It was very successful. Everybody was scared to go there, and now Chelsea is
the "it." And we see that. We see it happening. We know it's going to happen in five, 10 years.
We can make it happen faster if we just spend a little bit of these funds on the actual street. If I
have to take guys that come up from out of town for a ride and show them A, B, C, D, between
the NAP (Network Area Point) Center and the Performing Arts Center and this and that, there's
not enough going on. It's -- you know. So I believe that this would really show us that we're
working together as a team if something like that would happen. Thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: This would go with the theme of don't forget B, C, D, E, because what
you're describing is not "Z," it's not "A," but it's the thing we do to get to "Z." Same thing.
Want to elaborate on the skateboard park? And I do have one more that I missed. I found the
ones that --
Unidentified Speaker: I've spoken to FDOT and a lot of people in the community about the idea
of -- being that the parking is going to be implemented underneath the expressway -- the
possibility of putting a park underneath the expressway that's not another basketball court, which
I think there's enough basketball courts that everybody's putting over here. It's almost -- Yeah.
It's almost like a slur already. And being that the hip hop community and the extreme
community, somewhere like where you've got a lot of black and white crossing over, one of the
suggestions I had talked to different property owners in the neighborhood about was putting a
skate/bike park underneath the expressway, because they're the most successful parks in the
country for skating and riding bikes are these ramp parks underneath the freeways. Because
"A," they're cheap. They're very cost effective. They're -- you can change them year to year.
They offer shade, because the expressway already does, and we can put a stage there. And
before you know it, you've got people skating, riding bike. You've got suburban kids from
Kendall coming over here, not just coming to the clubs at night. And we're cleaning up the
neighborhood. We could do that and implement that with a hundred to a hundred and fifty
thousand dollars ($150,000). Bottom line. I priced it out. The land -- we're going to do the
parking anyways. We just need to get it done. So that was my sketch, and that's a donation to
the CRA.
Eric Shaw: I'm Eric Shaw. I'm the Economic Development Manager for the Overtown Civic
Partnership. And it's funny you mentioned skate park because -- yes.
Unidentified Speaker: What is your title?
Mr. Shaw: My name's Eric Shaw. I'm the Economic Development Manager for the Overtown
Civic Partnership. Yeah. It's located in the Dorsey House, actually, and Phillip Bacon is the
Executive Director. Yeah. But funny you mentioned skate park, because one of my jobs is also
to find opportunities and grants. And Tony Hawk Foundation has a grant for skate parks within
areas, and we're in the process of reviewing it and analyzing if we should apply for it. So now,
apparently, there's a need for it. And I think it's twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) to do the
infrastructure for it, so we'll talk about this afterwards and let you know.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
25 March 8, 2003
Mr. Shaw: Well, it's very doable right now. We can get the grants, so we'll talk about that
afterwards.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Reverend McKnight. And then I've got one more card we haven't
answered.
Irby McKnight: I'm Irby McKnight, resident. My question -- we spoke earlier about one project
being done in the CRA, the Solomon Yuken building on 3`d Avenue, from loth to llth Street.
This is a nice project, but it provided absolutely no employment opportunity for not a single
person in the neighborhood. All of the workers on the project was brought in from somewhere
else. And we, who live here, have those same skills that were imported ten times over. So I
would like to ask that there is some stipulation, if the City puts dollars into a project, that 80
percent of the laborers come from the local community, 20 percent of the skilled trades people
come from the local community. And if you don't do that, it's not going to happen. They're not
going to hire the people. You have a card there from a young man who was trained in the
Empowerment Zone process in hazardous material removal. They all went to Segal Academy in
Ft. Lauderdale. We rented a van, drove them up there for a 40 hour class. Everybody passed the
class. All of them were OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) certified.
Everybody got licensed to remove asbestos, remove lead, and all of this stuff is being done all
around this community, but not a one of those men were employed. So I'm wondering, since we
didn't see anybody else in the class -- and if you don't do the work, you have to take the class
every year, or either practice the craft. If you don't do it, then you need to be retrained every 12
months. There were no other people in the class. It was a class set up for Miami. We bused the
people everyday who went. So -- and the instructors did say that a lot of people are doing this
work who are not trained, because it's cheaper to get people like that. However, they don't
understand the hazard to the work is why they're doing it. But if you don't put a caveat that says
you have to hire local people, they're not going to do it. So if we cannot buy the houses because
we don't have the jobs, and the renovation that comes along doesn't hire us, we still won't have
the jobs. And the next thing I want to ask is, can the CRA assist small developers and
developers, period, with this WASA (Water and Sewer Authority) requirement that is costing so
much money? It's better to just cement block up the building, rather than try to put it back on
line. Because the eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) that they will charge you, you don't have
and didn't get a grant, because everyone does not get these grants.
Unidentified Speaker: Frank, Irby's card was the one I had left, which is on those questions.
"What will the City do to get developers to hire community residents on projects that are
approved by the City? And what can the CRA do about the cost of water and sewer services that
are out of reach for your --
Mr. Rollason: I understand.
Unidentified Speaker: -- small property owners?"
26 March 8, 2003
Mr. Rollason: All right. Let me speak to the first one. The CRA has been drafting, for the last
couple of months, a first source hiring program stipulation to put in. It's not so simple. You
know, the pendulum, as a result of law suits, never comes back to the middle. It goes all the way
over here, and you've got complete control over how you want to give contracts out. And then
when some contractors file suit and it goes before the courts and they prevail, the pendulum
comes way back over here again. It's not so simple making requirements of people as to who
they're going to hire and where these people reside that they're going to come from. Our
position is that we would like to try to do something that is in partnership with these developers
and be able to trade off things that developers are coming for us need that we have control over,
and maybe sort of get their heads straight that the smart thing to do is to -- if you're going to get
these benefits from the community, that you're going to participate with the community. So
that's -- Irby, that's being worked on now. And it was going to go before the CRA Board at the
last meeting, and it wasn't finely blessed by the City Attorney. And I'm hopeful, Chelsa, that it
will probably be --do you think it'll be on the March 31St meeting? So we're coming back again
on the 31St. Now, let's talk about the infrastructure, and this is what I alluded to earlier when we
spoke about what can the CRA do or what should the CRA be doing. It's just not the CRA,
because the CRA does not have the money to dump into this type of infrastructure problems and
renovations that have to take place. The inner cities all over this country, if you look at what's
happening with the big dig, if you look at what's happening in New York with infrastructures
that are far beyond what we can even comprehend that have to be redone with bringing water
into New York from the Catskills and that type of thing, you're talking billion dollar projects that
are having to go forward now to fix the inner city that -- and with what's happened with the
urban sprawl and everybody leaving and going to the outsides, now people are returning back to
the inner cities, and the infrastructure will not support the growth that is going to take place. It's
difficult. It's not the same when you come into an inner city and try to take a backhoe and go
into the ground and replace some pipes, as compared to when you take some virgin land out in
West Dade and you're going to do a development and you have to put some hydrants in, and you
need to put in sanitary sewer and you're digging in the ground and you're not hitting anything.
You're just -- you've got rocks. We just finished doing the Flagler Street project from the
standpoint of putting in sewers and water down the center of Flagler Street, and I can tell you it
was an ordeal. It took a real commitment from WASA to help us. Took a lot of -- WASA took a
lot of heat from County Commissioners that diverted money and labor to that downtown project
because of the Flagler Street project and the timeline we had with the Flagler Street project. Just
about anywhere in town that you go into the ground, there's a lot of hand digging. There's a lot
of -- it's very labor intensive with what has to be done. We need help in that aspect. The County
talks the line about Eastward Ho moving back into the inner cities, and that is going to happen
over time because we have reached the limit of how far west we can go. There's certainly more
development that can happen. But another strange thing -- or another thing is happening west
that is going to force people to come east, and that is is that the federal government is going to
raise the water level in the Everglades. They're going to reclaim the Everglades. And you are
going to see, over a period of time, major projects that are going to take place out west. They're
going to change the picture of what people are able to do to go out west to develop. You're
basically talking flat land that is just barely above sea level. And when we start to flood the
Everglades again -- and they're talking about -- if you've seen in the paper, in some of the plans,
long stretches of the Tamiami Trail are now going to go either underwater, and they're going to
overpass it with an overpass so they can start that sheeting of water back, or they're going to
27 March 8, 2003
have to put these huge culvert projects underneath the Tamiami Trail to start to flood the
Everglades again on the other side. It's imperative that this take place for our water supply,
because people are finally starting to put together, I guess, what Marjorie Stoneman Douglas said
years ago in the river of grass, we're facing our very survival in this part of the community based
upon our water. So people are going to be coming back to town, and the governments are going
to be forced to face these projects and come in and do these things that have to be done. On a
small scale, such as George Nunez, when he does Club Space, and he has to go out and bring a
waterline in, and he faces the battle by himself or whether he can get a small grant from us,
which he got the other night, to help offset some of his costs, that is not of the scale that we're
going to need to be able to do the things in this community that are going to have to take place.
It's going to have to be global. I'm sure it's going to have to take State and federal money to
assist us, but these main corridors, Miami Avenue, 3rd Avenue, 2nd Avenue, all these section lines
and that type of thing, are going to have to be redone and the water, the sanitary, the storm
sewers, are going to have to be brought in. And you're talking millions and millions of dollars to
do that. And when you get finished, you pour dirt over it and that's where you start. You start
with somebody coming out and saying, "Man, I've got millions of dollars in the ground and you
can't see the first thing." And that is absolutely going to have to happen. And that's what's
happening to the small developer, the small businessperson that comes, that buys the warehouse
and wants to change the use; wants to take it from a storage facility and do something, whether it
be a restaurant, a club, or offices, or whatever they want to do. As soon as you go to change that
use, you now have to comply with all of the codes that have to be brought up to code, and it's
tremendously expensive. So we're hopeful, with the way that we're addressing this particular
plan, that with a regulatory plan -- and Ana, you can tell me if I'm wrong -- but I'm hoping that
with that regulatory plan, we can start to address these things on the front end as far as what did
he have to comply with, what are your leeways that you can change use and that type of thing,
without having to meet on an individual basis all these codes that come down the pike. As far as
the infrastructure goes, we all know we face it. We're a young old City. We're not an old old
City. We still have places in this community that have wooden water mains that are still in use
today. Up in the Little River area, they're still redwood water mains that are in the ground. And
the County, as we -- as they go forward and as projects develop, they put the onus on that
developer to bring that infrastructure up to code. And it's tremendously expensive. We're aware
of it, and it's certainly something that, at the government level from the politicians, the
policymakers, that is certainly going to have to be addressed.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Rollason: Well, Grady, what you're saying is true, but I think what we're missing is what
the magnitude of what we are facing. One of the projects that we're looking at doing that the
CRA -- that the board has told me to go forward with looking at the project development and
environmentals, the PD&E, what they call, that is to rebuild I It" Street from Biscayne Boulevard
to 51" Avenue. That's right through the entertainment district, coming right into existing
Overtown and past the 3rd Avenue limit right now, going to the new --what we assume will be
the 5t" Avenue. That project, which H.J. Ross, the people that are here with us, are helping us
start to put together the very beginning elements of that for the PD&E. We estimate that project
to be five and a half to six million dollars ($6,000,000) to rebuild that road. Now it doesn't take
a lot of mathematics to start to figure out how much money you're going to need to start doing
28 March 8, 2003
these things. Where do you go? What's your priority? What do you pick? And that's another
thing that's got to happen when this plan is developed. I mean, it's not like -- you know, like
George is saying. It's not like when the plan gets done, all of a sudden, voom, all this stuff is
going to happen. What are going to be the priorities? And what's the natural progression of how
we go? And how do we keep the people along the -- either the outskirts or those that are not the
primary areas, how do we keep them still with enough support so that they can survive until the
next element comes along? And it's -- listen, it's nothing that money can't solve. That's exactly
where we're at. We can get the plan. We just need the bucks to do it.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Rollason: I'm hoping you would. I don't think I can stop you.
Ms. Green: You know, one thing we try to look forward to somebody to blame, and I see, Mr.
Rollason, he is really -- but 25 years, and I've got to say this. I don't want to confuse this with
what's going on. But 25 years of CDBG funds, OK, coming into the inner city, and we don't see
any, any improvement. Now, we got -- and I got to talk about this because I'm proud of this. I
hung out nine years with the Jefferson Reeves Center over there, that they say we weren't going
to get, but I stuck it out nine years of meeting for something that could have been built in one
month, I'm sure. Because that building right there on 4th Street, that they built a big, tall high
rise over there, they worked seven days a week and got that building built. So what I don't
understand is for certain areas, they have certain rules. Now I drive down Brickell because it's
beautiful. No green space, but all those high rises. So evidently, the same rules does not apply
when it comes to Overtown. And they're selling the property to people and they decide they
want to use all our money, taxpayer's money, to plant annuals and grass, like we need some
more of that junk. That's what I don't understand about this system. How can they squander
money like that? And then if we can't do nothing, then maybe the government don't need to
send any money down here, if we got that many problems. Because all over here -- I grew up
over here. I used to walk these streets barefeet. But over here, right on 2" d Avenue, the L & M
Mini Store that's on Miami Avenue used to be right here on 2„ d Avenue, and many other stores
and lounges and restaurants. We don't have a decent family restaurant over here. We have the
Louises, but it's very small in there, maybe 50 people, you know. We don't have anything but,
yet, the money comes. Now, where is the money and what can we do with the money? The
infrastructure -- those people that had the businesses here, they had water and everything. So I
know it needs upgrading, but why can't they begin? You're never going to finish anything if you
don't begin something. Because I know -- you know, I'm dumb. I couldn't -- all that stuff, I
know you had to pay those people a lot of money to do it, you know. But you know how many
times I've seen these in 10 years? And then one girl came out showing a whole bunch of junk
and this and that, and what do you want in Overtown and you're so optimistic. She goes and
opens a place up in Ft. Lauderdale, you know. So we got -- who going to travel up there? Not
us. Now I want to know what can we do now? Right now. You know, what can you begin
with?
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
29 March 8, 2003
Eleanor Klueger: All right. I'm Eleanor Klueger, been a long time resident of the Omni area,
maybe 40 years. Haven't seen any of the infrastructure that Frank is trying to get going now, and
I think it is important. We have no lighting and water and sewer and everything else. It's all
rotted and terrible. Our lighting has been, for 40 years, the same. And it's all happened within
the northeast and northwest areas. We have been totally neglected. People haven't spoken for
these neighborhoods. Some of us have tried. I'm here with a lot of my community development
people, such as Ernie and Mr. Grady, here. And we tried very hard for, at least, four years that I
was on the board, trying to get you the dollars that you deserve, and the Commissioners never
put the dollars where we asked them to. They didn't listen to the community people that tried to
tell them. Ms. Green was down there all the time pushing for things that were important to these
communities. And what I'm saying is, yes, we need Frank to look at the long term. But there's a
lot of people here in the neighborhood that have been here that want to improve the
neighborhood, and we really need to look at short term also, and spend more emphasis on the
short term. In the Omni area, we're trying to paint our buildings, and we really do appreciate the
support we're getting for painting the Omni buildings. At least, we'll look a little bit better, and
then maybe some of these developers will want to come here and do bigger and better things.
But certainly, living downtown is great. The neighborhoods could be fabulous. I lived here and
grew up -- born here -- and I remember these areas as being a lot livelier. Most of us have had to
move out because we haven't had any kind of cooperation. You can't do business in an area
that's blighted like it is. We used to employ 80 people here in the Overtown and Omni area. We
had, finally, to move out. We didn't want to. We are now in the Doral area. It's very beautiful
and nice. We now employ 175 people that could have been Overtown people, giving business
and jobs to them, and, instead, we have to bring it out into the Doral area that really didn't need
it as badly as here. And we really did try very hard to stay here. And what I'm saying, one of
my cards that you read was to bring business here. There is no seivice-oriented area here. In
other words, I live over in the condominium areas, and we have to travel very far for any kind of
services; the bakery, the grocery, the cleaning, the shoe shine, anything that we need. And those
are simple, easy businesses that we could fill some of these buildings with, if anybody would
start to concentrate on them and look at that a little bit closer. The other thing, too, is zoning.
You know what they did right behind one of my buildings just recently? We got a nice big
billboard stuck up there. I don't know how many billboards are in C-2 area and who's making
all the money on it, but that is disgusting. And we got -- it's a block away from the Performing
Arts Center, and here I'm going to have this huge billboard there. I mean, this is ridiculous.
And there's at least five or six more billboards around here because somebody went around
asking all the property owners, who were starving to death, "Would you like a billboard? We'll
pay you five hundred dollars ($500)" -- or whatever it is a month -- "to put a billboard there?"
And they said, "Sure, we'll take it, because we're not getting any help anywhere else, so we
might as well stick a billboard there." But that doesn't help any of us that are here.
Mr. Rollason: I think, to sort of bring that part to closure, I think at this point you're kind of
preaching to the choir. We support -- we hear exactly what you're saying from the
administration. And I think that getting to the elected officials are the ones that need to, you
know, hear and respond accordingly. Yes, sir.
Unidentified Speaker: Eleanor and George and others who have brought up this question about
what do we do near term, what do we do short, what can we do now. We hear this loud and
30 March 8, 2003
clear, from the consultant's point of view, and we'll make an effort to make things more vivid in
the plan, and more vivid in the presentations that we envision along those lines. As we have
more material, if you sign up in that Stakeholder Review Group and you give us your email, you
give us your mailing address, you'll get updates and things as they're produced. So we can -- we
had already started editing this, starting Monday morning, based on what we learned today. We
won't wait until the group is finished reading it.
Sonny Wright: Yeah. I don't want to take any more time than necessary, but normally I don't
say anything. I go to meetings like this, I don't say anything.
Unidentified Speaker: What's your name, sir? I'm sorry.
Mr. Wright: My name is Sonny Wright and I grew up in this neighborhood. I had businesses in
this neighborhood, and I watched the deterioration of this neighborhood. And you know, I'm
just going to say this because I want to go on record. That's the only reason I want to speak
now, because we all know what the deal is. The more things change, the more they remain the
same. We know what happened to Overtown. And I don't really feel that anything's going to
change any time soon, unless we take some real drastic action. Now, again, I don't want to make
a long, drawn out talk out of this. I think the neighborhood speaks for itself. The people that
live here, they know what I'm talking about. And those of you that are planning this, you know
what I'm talking about. But this is not the time nor the place to go into a long speech about what
needs to happen. But I do feel it's time for me, as an individual, to get off my seat and on my
feet and let you know that I'm concerned about this, and I intend to take a part, an active part, in
whatever way that we can to make sure that it stops here. It stops now. Overtown needs to be
redeveloped for the people who have suffered and who've lived here, who've been shipped out
and the whole nine yards. And I don't need to talk about that. Y'all know about that. Mr.
Rollason, right? Frank. OK. I just want to go on the record, officially, this day because I want it
to be known that from this point on, we need to change our position. We need to look at this
thing in terms of what we can do to redevelop this whole area to benefit -- well, again, this is not
the time. But thank you very much. I just wanted to go on record. Thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: Thanks.
Unidentified Speaker: Frank.
Marvin Weeks: Yes. Marvin Weeks, artist -- community artist. I'm concerned about the people
realm. What is going to happen about the development of the people. I mean, you see this type
of design and development, but I'm wondering how do we transform the current population to
sell them to this idea? Or how do they transform from stage to stage; stage one, stage two, stage,
three to be a part of this development? I mean, this is a vibrant part of this whole development.
To me, this is the infrastructure before you put the pipes in the ground. What about these people
that's walking around Overtown in the apartments, in the homes? Where is the plan that make
them a part of this? How do we transform this into the development? That's what I'm very
much concerned about.
31 March 8, 2003
Hershel Haynes: Good morning. My name is Hershel Haynes. And I'd just like to say this as a
concerned citizen, because I used to live in Overtown. And matter of fact, in my most important
years, I went to Northwestern Senior High of its first year of inception, while I lived in
Overtown. And so, I just sat here and I've listened very, very carefully, but I know this man, Mr.
Rollason, for a number of years since he's been in the position that he is. And I just would like
to say this: I think one of the key things that needs to be done is the inclusion, if you will, of
people like Ms. Green, who -- I'm sitting here and I'm stunned. I heard her say she was thrown
off of some kind of committee and I --
Ms. Green: The Omni Trust and I was elected to that board, but because I didn't vote for them
this morning (INAUDIBLE) forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for flowers, annuals, you know.
And then they say they can't do nothing for the (INAUDIBLE). If they put some of those
monies that they (INAUDIBLE), maybe we could get something going on here. (INAUDIBLE)
thousands of dollars to (INAUDIBLE) and they threw me off because I do not agree. And if I'm
the only one that don't agree, I don't care.
Mr. Haynes: And I think -- and something in regards -- I'm sorry. What's your name again?
Mr. Dover: Victor Dover.
Mr. Haynes: And you appear to be a key person in this endeavor. I would just like to say that I
think it's -- as you would look at it if it was an area that was predominantly Caucasian, that it
would be very necessary and incumbent upon the grassroots and the citizens, who had lived in
that area where you live, to be inclusive of the decision -making, as I think it is mandated and
prescribed and defined by the federal government that those people in that given area, or
neighborhood, which is designed to be improved, be included. And so, then --
Unidentified Speaker: This meeting is my idea for that very reason.
Mr. Haynes: I beg your pardon?
Unidentified Speaker: This meeting today is my idea for that very reason. I couldn't agree with
you --
Mr. Haynes: Well, I applaud you. I applaud you. I applaud you and everybody that is
responsible for having this kind of a meeting. I --
Unidentified Speaker: But how can we do more? There aren't enough people here. One of the
cards we got -- I want to ask how -- was it widely advertised? Why don't people come?
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Ms. Green: I tell you what. If the CDBG was giving out money, you would see them here.
Unidentified Speaker: And, Mr. Haynes, I didn't let you finish. I'm sorry.
32 March 8, 2003
Mr. Haynes: Absolutely, but --
Ms. Green: They not really from this area. That's why. You see it like a welfare line when they
giving out the CDBG -- when they giving out some money, that I want to do something in
Overtown into the Empowerment Zone, you know. (INAUDIBLE) something to really show
that you're concerned about the quality of life and the people that live over there, you don't see
them. That's why I (INAUDIBLE) about these people.
Mr. Haynes: If I may. If I may. I just don't want to hold the mic. I'm glad all of this is starting
to come out because I was sitting there and I was wondering at what point the key principle in
the project was going to be related to and addressed, and that would be the people. And I think
Mr. Wright made a statement in terms of the people of this given neighborhood. And I would
just like to say, appealing to people like Mr. Rollason, I think you're still one of the Assistant
Managers, right?
Mr. Rollason: No.
Mr. Haynes: You're not? I'm sorry. OK. You've been promoted now. But I know that he is a
key player somewhere in the City, and I'm saying -- the foundation of what I'm saying because,
I think to really see the kind of change that we all want to see, you're going to have to include
people like Ms. Green. And I don't see him right now, but I do know Mr. McKnight was here,
and those are the kinds of people that I think you're going to have to include to see the kinds of
changes that Mr. Rollason made reference to, as it relates to the code. I've been in some, in the
last couple of three weeks, prior to now, key meetings as it relates to the Chief. And it has come
out where there's reference to the code, and I know that it's very, very important that this be
changed. That the codes -- that some of the people from the Overtown Advisory Board was
there -- be made, that change have the foundation and the people from the organization, like the
Overtown Advisory Board, simply be included in the decision -making plans. And I think the
code factor of it all is very, very, very key.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you, Hershel. Would you pass it to Mr. Weeks, also? Thank you.
Mr. Weeks: Yes. I also want to comment about -- you asked the question why the people
haven't come out, and I assume you're referring to the local people from the Overtown
community.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Weeks: Right. I was just observing, myself, personally, as the meeting was going on from
the beginning of the day, and just noticing the demographics of the audience. And in my
opinion, I think this is going to be the problem that's going to stem from the development, that
how do we sell the idea to the everyday person in the Overtown community? I think it's evident
today those who come out. Number one, I don't think the message -- the enthusiasm and the
interest of what's going to take place has not been connected to the open public. That has not
been sold. And that's a part of the infrastructure and development that, in my opinion, has to
33 March 8, 2003
happen. If there's going to be an effort from the Omni area, for the Overtown community, I
think the people realm -- the development of the people from the Omni area, as well as the
Overtown community, has to be developed. And I think, in our last meeting, we touched upon
that same thing and I don't see any difference in this meeting. And so I'm just saying, I think
that that's an effort that we really going to have to deal with, because the people need to be sold
this idea and be a part of and feel enthusiastic to come out and participate. And, to me, that's a
part of development. And I think that was the cause of Overtown's demise in the begiiming and
it's still prevalent today.
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah. I wanted to make a couple of comments. First, is wearing my hat
as an employee of the Black Archives, and Dr. Fields represents us very well and spoke very
eloquently about our position, particularly as it relates to the Folk Life Village development.
I've been brought in as the Main Street Manager, and I want to encourage you to look at the
Main Street Program that's being used across the state and the country. There are six main
streets in Boston, for instance, and Main Street really takes a look at a small area and how can
you do design, organizational development, promotion, and economic restructuring. OK. And it
works with the City and the CRAB to make this happen. So I'd encourage you to look at that and
include that in your thinking. Now, as it relates to my second hat, I run an after -school program
at Town Park Village, which is 520 Northwest 17t" Street. And I can tell you, as an after -school
program director, I didn't get a notice, Marvin. As a resident of Park Place by the Bay, I didn't
get a notice. It was nothing in a newsletter. There was no flyer. So, it does go to how -- what
tactics are used to get the word out, as well as through -- in this small area -- word of mouth, OK,
because that's how a lot of things are heard. And use the billboards. I mean, they're paying for
it. Let's create some kind of relationship with the Clear Channels of the world to help us
understand what the message is about the development of this area. Secondly, I think one thing I
hadn't heard that may have been brought up is dealing with schools. If this redevelopment is
going to happen, then we have to take a look closer at the schools and the conditions of the
existing schools in this area. And it has to be a concerted effort to improve that. OK. You got
Habitat for Humanity doing a lot of work near Phyllis Wheatley, but Phyllis Wheatley
enrollment is down, and that principal needs help. OK. You got Dunbar. You got Frederick
Douglass. All "D" and "F" schools. You got Booker T. Washington. We've got to do
something about that. I think you get the point. Secondly, is right away. Ms. Green, to your
point -- because we're both on that Jefferson Reeves Board -- we got to do something about the
clean and safe services in this area. There is no reason why this place can't look better. It
doesn't need to wait. OK. And we have code -- code enforcement can be improved in this area
right away. So I would call to your attention things of that nature, to take a look at right now to
help, at least, begin to energize people to think that you are serious about development.
Otherwise, if you wait until the development starts to begin to move the homeless camp from
Greyhound bus station, that's been there for two years. And the homeless --
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Sure. And the folks that have a residence right on the 9"' Street
Pedestrian Mall, they been there for how long? They got a residence on that -- they have a bench
with their name on it. OK. And there's no reason why that can't change, and I'm not going to
34 March 8, 2003
tale my daughter over along the Pedestrian Mall until you do something about it. So it seems to
me --
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Say that one more time.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Yes. To the north, yes. We're obviously working with the City very
closely, but it is moving forward. And the general manager for the Lyric is right here. Again,
we've been brought in -- oh, yes.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Kenyetta Wilson : The update is that we are in the final stages of securing the -- hello. I'm
Kenyetta Wilson. I am the general manager of the Lyric Theater and the administrator at the
Black Archives. We are in the final stages of securing the final bit of property or a piece of
property to continue with the expansion, and we expect, within the next couple weeks, for
everything to be finalized and we will be moving forward with the architects and the general
contractors to begin the construction. And we're moving forward.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Ms. Wilson: OK.
Unidentified Speaker: One more thing I want to say because I think it's critical. In the job
points, that was a very key point Irby brought out. With CDBG funds, Mr. Rollason, you know,
there's Section 3 that says that people who get over a hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) need
to look at residents and take some sort of job creation plan to the City and to the federal
government to say that they made an honest effort to hire local residents. Section 3, it's right
there. So, I mean, there's things in place that just need to be enforced.
Mr. Rollason: I agree.
Unidentified Speaker: OK. So, I mean, that's -- and the FDOT issue. I mean, the community
awareness and community information process that they need to go through, we need to pay
particular attention. I think it's Section 167 -- I think that's it -- of the Florida Statute that says
they have to -- that's right -- inform the public, and they cannot do -- create an undue burden on
the (INAUDIBLE) of an area, which is the Folk Life Village. So, I don't care what they do on
3rd Avenue. If it's going to cause an undue burden to Mount Zion, or to the Lyric, or to Bethel,
35 March 8, 2003
or anybody else along the 3rd Avenue Corridor, we need to step up and say that it needs to
happen a little differently. OK.
Unidentified Speaker: And let me add. What I was saying ties into what he said. What I was
saying early on ties into what this young gentleman is saying, in terms of what Mr. Rollason said
earlier. And that would be what's already available if you would include -- he's on the Advisory
Board for Overtown. Ms. Green is on the Advisory Board for Overtown. So if this was a part of
the inclusion, look what kind of huge benefit you'd have in terms of knowledge, intellect, and
direction from people that live in the Overtown area. This man right here definitely knows
something because I -- you know, I really know about the federal Section 3 stipulation as it
relates and mandates in terms of who it is that you must hire. So, it just needs this kind of
inclusion. And also, the federal dollars that's available to people, entrepreneurs that live in the
Overtown area that's going to slum landlords, if you will. And all of these are kinds of key
factors, I think, that you're going to have to give consideration if we want to develop what the
people want that used to be here and are not here, like Mr. Wright and others, you know, just
here today. This is just tip of the iceberg. I was asked to come over here and I'm glad I did. But
what if other people who once lived here were here and have the lrnowledge and information as
this young man? You could have the foundation for developing what we see in these pictures
here. Aside from that, Ms. Green is right. I don't think it's a reality, you know, incorporating
people that don't have the right kind of interest, and that would be just for the money.
(INAUDIBLE)
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Rollason: Of course, if everybody who is here today brought three people to the later
meetings, when the CRA, for example, has to adopt thing, they're going to want to look around
the room and find out whether the people are for it or not, then you'd fill every chair in that
room. So, it doesn't take too big of a ripple to ripple out and include a whole lot of people. So --
I would remind you that if you didn't sign one of those Stakeholder Review things and give us
your contact information, or you didn't sign in when you came in, then we don't have any way to
get to just the very people who did come. And everybody here probably knows somebody they
thought should be here or would be here if they knew about it. All you'd have to do is give this
young lady right here -- Chelsa, wave your hand -- or any of the other CRA staff members or
consultants contact information. They'll add them. They have a machine that pumps out
addresses and faxes and things.
Unidentified Speaker: Can I respond to that for a second? I would like to very much.
Mr. Rollason: Yes. And then Ms. Klueger.
Unidentified Speaker: Perhaps, you could -- yeah.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you.
Mr. Rollason: Who's going first?
36 March 8, 2003
6
Unidentified Speaker: I'd like to respond to that for a second because we brought it up, you
know, about seven months ago, and George is with me here. We sort of tried to form a
community board here, about 15 of us, and we probably put on paper equal value of property
close to what? How much was it, George, about a hundred million? Twenty, fifty? Whatever. I
don't remember. Ten million -- fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000), OK, of people who
purchase properties here for the past three to five years, I would say, you know. And most of us
are the ones who kind of like fix it by our own hands, for lack of better word, you know. And
we do use people from the neighborhood to help us, you know. We do use -- you know, we are
trying to create this small economy, get it going off the ground. But, you know what, I've got to
tell you. Each one of these guys, if I will tell them about this meeting today, some of them knew
and some of them don't. Some of them don't get enough information ahead of time. There
could be a much better information you know, facility for that, whether it's via faxes, email, or
whatnot. But -- and I'm not, right now, pointing any' fingers at the CRA. As a matter of fact, I
think that if anything, right now, with Frank on board, we're getting a hell of a lot more done
than before. But what I'm trying to say to you, from our point of view, it doesn't concern them.
You know, when you tell people that Dover Kohl is trying to do an infrastructure plan for big
time developer -- this development is 50 to three hundred million dollar ($300,000,000)
development. Who the hell -- we don't -- we're talking about trying to make a two thousand
dollar ($2,000) mortgage payment. You know what I mean?
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: No, no. That's what the people's perception is. And that's why they
don't show up. And they say, you know what, for this, I'm not Jorge Perez. I'm a guy who's
just trying to get a little bar on the corner (INAUDIBLE), a little bagel shop, a little Laundromat,
a little this, a little that; maybe a studio artist, you know, this, that, and the other. Nobody talks
about our stuff. We talk about our stuff. Right. So, this is great, but you know, they just -- if
this is -- that's why we're trying to tell you, let's go for A, B, C immediately. You will get so
much support and help. You have no idea. And we will help you. That's what we're willing to
commit that we'll help you, you know, if we know. The other thing was is that, in the last past
CRA meeting, I think there was something about overboard committee that we're talking about.
And Commissioner Teele said, you know, "I'm for it, but I want people from the community to
be involved." We don't feel like -- yeah, the Commissioners are there and sometimes the doors
are open and they can allocate their time to talk to you, and then there is Frank and the CRA and
everything. But then, you know, there is enough talent here that I've been -- believe you me, I
mean, none of us is running into politics right now, but there's enough talent here -- even here in
this small group -- to have a presentation, to work, you know, with you guys to bring those issues
up. (INAUDIBLE)
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Whether -- you can see that.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
37 March 8, 2003
Unidentified Speaker: And you know what -- yeah. Our word, we can carry it out. We will be
the best marketing tool for this project and so forth, if we see that the issues are, you know,
attended to. So that's all.
Ms. Klueger: I wanted to respond to your question, which I was really shocked, that you say
why aren't there so many people here. Well, I don't know if you realize that you're not the first
group to come here, Mr. Dover, and we have listened to all of this. I've been doing activity work
for about the last seven years, and I have heard plan after plan after plan. And truthfully, the
only ones that are left here now are the most tenacious, the most persistent, the ones who really
want to see it happen, or the newcomers that have come in here and still have hope. But you've
got tons of people here that have listened and seen nothing happen, and money go through, and
nothing working, and meeting after meeting. You know, we're -- most of us are working people.
We don't have that much time to come out here and listen to this stuff. And if nothing is going
to happen, then these people aren't coming back anymore, and that's what I see, is that only the
ones that have been really pushing for all these years that -- because they don't want to waste or
feel that their time was wasted, they're still here. But that's the way it is.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you, Eleanor. That's helpful.
Mr. Wilson: Not to be disrespectful about it, what I'll say to you is, what has been the response
of your industry to the needs of this area previously. And if there's not a track record of
goodwill and good faith and trust in prior working relationships, then there may not be the kind
of groundswell of interest to come here today and sit here for four hours and listen to you talk
about what the grand scheme of things is. So I just want you to take that into consideration. The
other thing is looking at the drawings. Just keep in mind -- especially 2"d Avenue -- to try to
have the historic character of Little Broadway included in the thinking inasmuch a way as
possible to remind those newcomers, as well as those that's been here a while and are a little
tired that oh, yeah, there were these things that happened here at this time and it still is an area of
fresh energy, and it still can be somewhere that I can feel good about. OK.
(COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
Chris Knowles: Yeah. My name is Chris Knowles. I work with the Human Services Coalition,
and I also edit what's called "The Chain Reaction," which is a weekly newsletter, and we always
have this meeting advertised and hope that people will come out and support what's going on.
But I'm originally from north New Jersey, and there's an Over -town in every major city in
America, and it's the same issues. We may think here that it's very peculiar. No, it's the same
thing going on. There's some other issues here that may be a little bit different, but I applaud the
new director because you have a challenge, you know. You definitely have a challenge ahead of
you, but you also have a mandate from the people in this room that really want to get something
done. And I would hope that, you know, within the very near future, that you can show this
community something of substance. But I think your first charge is to clean the house. And I
think he's making positive steps in that regard. Because it's perception, you know. Good work
will rule out perception, but it's hard because you're dealing with infrastructure issues, and those
38 March 8, 2003
6
things takes time and it take a lot of money. But that perception is something that you have to
change. You can only change that by really change -- by really digging in deep and cleaning the
house. They're many people in this City. Overtown is the home of a lot of people who don't
live here. So that's one of the reasons why you don't have a lot of people here. It's the soul --
it's a home for the soul for a lot of people in South Florida, a lot of black people. They don't live
in Overtown anymore, you know. They just moved, but this is their home. They still identify
with it, but there's this perception that the CRA -- (Side B begins here) perception, so I would
ask you just to keep that in mind and develop along side, you know, of course, the planning and
some of the other things that you have to do, but that perception has to change also.
Mr. Rollason: That's very true. You want to say something --
Mr. Weeks: I just want to make one last comment. You know, dealing with this gentleman's
comment about small scale and about making an approach, I think that's the problem with
Overtown. The everyday people don't have something to look forward to, and that's been the
problem, I think, with the small -- why businesses haven't taken off in Overtown. Small scale
things that people interested -- and I also think there need to be an effort where all the CDCs
(Community Development Corporations) and agencies in Overtown need to have a meeting, a
connection to the people. And I think this is a problem. And that connection is not there. The
connection for people who have small dreams and ideas, those things are not being conveyed.
Those things are not connected, and that's the sustainable things that we need to go on; a vision,
focus, something of spirit that they can believe in. And that's why the people not here today, and
that's why those who have those dreams are not implementing them. I applaud these gentlemen
for saying they want to do things on that level, and that's what we need done within Overtown
community, is a small scale ideas that can begin and build from the logic, because people can't
really fit they self into that context of, you know, something being taken away from it and they
saying this is going to happen. I believe in it. I believe it's going to happen. One last case point.
This beautiful building that's going up on 3rd Avenue over here that's being built with funds
from the CRA or whomever, I watched the progress of that -- no negative comments, understand,
but I watched the progress of that building. And, as an artist, I've seen all the little decorative
things that's taking place to that building. Just the simulations of bricks that some crafted people
are doing, but there's no people of color working on the simplest thing, like just making a block -
- simulated blocks. I mean, if you can't take people in this community to make a simulated
block, you never going to get them involved. I mean, it's simulated blocks, where you're taking
-- just scratch into the cement, and there's no people of color participating in that. Where are we
going to begin?
Ms. Green: Thank you. You're absolutely right. My three son -in-laws and grandson -in-law
have to go to Broward County (INAUDIBLE). They get up four o'clock every morning
(INAUDIBLE). Every morning they'll travel to Broward County because they have to work.
Mr. Rollason: All right. One more. It's going to be Mr. (INAUDIBLE).
Ms. Green: (COMMENTS OFF THE RECORD)
39 March 8, 2003
6
Mr. Bacon: Once again, this is Phil Bacon (INAUDIBLE), and we're with the Overtown Civic
Partnership. We're located in Dorsey House. And we're trying -- I think our task is, we're
trying to make sure there's a lot of good, small things happening. I don't know if guys -- I've
only been here for three months. I moved from Washington, D.C. to work here: And I'm
amazed at how much stuff is happening. The thing is that no one's talking to each other and
everyone, in some instances, are -- we have to build capacity. That's what I've seen now. That's
the key for us, and that's where the partnerships can be founded. I don't know if you guys know
this, but the president of the Rockerfeller Foundation said that one of the most important
neighborhoods they want to help rebuild in the United States is Overtown. And so -- yes. He's
the president of Rockerfeller Foundation, with billions of dollars said this is the key
neighborhood they want to see changed. And so, what I see, with myself and with Admiral Phil,
we're getting a new Community Development manager. We've been working with Frank.
We've been working with a lot of people here to start to put the pieces together because all of the
pieces are here. And so, I encourage you guys to come by the Dorsey House, or talk to me, talk
to the admiral, or talk to any of these people. They all know who we are right now, but we're
trying to put the pieces together. Because when we say five years from now this place will be
different, we really believe it because ,we know the people that own the land, that want to
develop, that have the social service capacity, have all that kind of stuff. So maybe I'm just
optimistic right now. That's -- I'm bubbly like that. But you know what, it's going to happen.
It's going to happen. It's going to be good. And be active.
Mr. Rollason: Thank you. I want to thank every -- are you ready to wrap it up? I want to thank
-- sincerely thank everybody for coming. I mean, I'm a believer of the old adage that the mind
can only absorb what the rear end can endure, and you all have toughed through a long morning
here. But it's been productive and it's been good. I know the CRA has a long way to go with
the exact perception of exactly what you're talking about, and we have addressed it in many staff
meetings. And I am very frank -- being frank with our staff as to what the perception is of the
community of the CRA. We've started a program -- where I've been meeting with individual
leaders of the CRA and having a little breakfast and just talking to them. And it's -- in some
areas, it's very disheartening to see how they have sort of just written the CRA off, and it's really
not something that they -- you know, they're very surprised, number one, they ever heard
anything from the CRA -- anybody ever called them to come sit down. And that invitation
certainly extends to you. I'd very much like to sit down with you. We have members from our
staff here today that I certainly want to recognize and thank for coming. Chelsa Arscott is in our
Planning section.
[APPLAUSE]
Mr. Rollason: Antoinette, who's in the white blouse there. One of my assistants, Ms. Susie
Guiterrez, who I bought with me from the City --
[APPLAUSE]
Mr. Rollason: -- and tries to keep me focused with what's happening. Got a couple people here
from the City, with Lourdes Slayzk and Ana Gelabert from our Planning section. And this whole
-- I had a couple other people here but I don't see them now. They -- maybe they skated out and
40 March 8, 2003
good for them. But the CRA does not stand alone as an island. We have to work very closely
with the private sector, and with our partners that are in the City government to try to make these
things happen and that's our goal. And you all keep the pressure on, you know. The same heat
that melts butter makes steel strong, so come on. You're not going to hurt me any.
[APPLAUSE]
There being no ficrther business to come before the Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment Agency, the meeting was adjourned.
41 March 8, 2003